Judge berates lawyer for “tipping” bailiff to serve court processes

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*Federal High Court, Lagos

(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Tuesday, warned lawyers and litigants against “paying” bailiffs to serve court processes on parties to a suit.
The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, said that the bailiffs were not supposed to charge extra fees from litigants in order to serve processes on parties.
It is fast becoming a norm that bailiffs have to be “tipped” or “mobilised” if they are to deliver court processes to parties.
Lawyers who refuse to “settle” them may have their files abandoned or not treated.
On Tuesday, a lawyer who appeared before the judge in a case, complained that the defendants were yet to be served with court processes, even though he “mobilised” the bailiffs.
In a swift reaction, Justice Olatoregun asked the lawyer: “Did you say you mobilised them? How much did you give them let me know if it was enough?”
The lawyer said he gave the bailiffs N8,000.
The judge then threatened to order the lawyer’s arrest for offering a bribe.
She also sent for the court’s registrar and bailiff.
The judge said: “When you give a bribe, both of you are liable; We’ll get the Chief Registrar. You will be handed over to the police for bribing a bailiff and you will explain how you have been bribing bailiffs.
“That is how you will be collecting money from SANs when you become a judge.”
Justice Olatoregun, who is the Administrative Judge of the court’s Lagos Division, stressed that bailiffs were paid salaries and allowances to do their jobs and so, required no further mobilisation.
After sending for the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, the judge said she would deal with the matter in her chambers. ‎‎

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