Interview Session with Israel Adeniyi 💫
From secondary school valedictorian to breaking the all-time CGPA record at the University of Ilorin, and now emerging as the Best Graduating Student out of 7,000+ students at the Nigerian Law School—Israel Adeniyi’s journey is nothing short of historic
But as Israel reveals in our exclusive sit-down, he didn’t set out to break records: “I set out to do my possible best so that when I looked back, I could say, ‘I left nothing on the table.’”
"Knowing the law is only half the battle. You need to know how to present it in the way the examiner expects."
To top a class of 7,000+ law graduates, intelligence isn't enough—you need strategy.
In this interview, record-breaking law graduate Israel Adeniyi breaks down his game plan for cracking the Nigerian Law School:
🔗 https://t.co/Fu2PvysM5z
If he or she has to quote it, why not? I understand your point and I know that the police system has dropped to a level where they trample on the law they are meant to uphold, but I don't accept the notion that every lawyer must go to the station to massage ego or play acolyte to the police.
There are certain practices I'd never subscribe to as a lawyer. I'd rather quit law and ply my trade elsewhere.
I've had reasons to write a station and request for a formal letter of invitation before a colleague could turn up. He was called on phone and asked to come. I told my colleague that a random phone call from someone who calls himself a police officer doesn't suffice.
My argument was that with the security situation, there's a need for such invitation to be formal and documented. If anything happens, let us be able to show who called him and where he went.
Did the police take it lightly? No. Throughout the process, they kept referring to me as "The lawyer who asked us to write a letter before his client can come" in a very aggressive way.
They wrote the letter. They did not like my gut. I did not like theirs either. I was not there to shop for affection and it would be unduly aspirational of me to desire such warmth from a system that I do not fancy. But they had to do the right thing.
We honoured their invitation and every attempt to intimidate and use subtle force was resisted in line with the law.
I kept telling the colleague I represented that if he gave in to police intimidation, he has failed the people. They'd count it as a win to tell others or another lawyer that: "Even a lawyer came here and we did xyz".
I am generally not welcoming of police briefs, but when I take it, I am not going there to bang my feet or raise my voice. I am also not going there to massage any ego or make a little man great. However, I'd insist that the right things be done.
I do not intend to legislate on how a lawyer should handle police briefs or prescribe the standard, but I hate that we often see lawyers who insist that police should do the right thing as inexperienced.
If we uphold the notion and sell it as the norm, it is a indictment on us and a matter of serious concern for non-lawyers.
Again, I am not saying that a "be a monkey to catch a monkey" approach to police practice is bad, for lawyers who opt for it. I am only saying that holding it up as the standard is, with due respect, an indictment on us as lawyers.
Some players are privileged to play in teams full of winners under great coaches.
Even 10 world cups can’t redefine the GOAT because You don’t choose your country, it chooses you.
But you do choose the club you represent.
Cristiano Ronaldo. The Undisputed 🐐