My dearest boy,
Happy Birthday! Now that you have attained the age of majority, this piece of paper is my only gift to you this year. I owe it to you as a mother, who happens to be a lawyer, to tell you these things if you must live a fulfilled life as a Nigerian. Firstly, I want you to know you are not obligated to toe the same path as I did. If you develop a zeal for the law and choose to study it at any point, then you have my blessings. Yet what I want to tell you does not concern you as a potential lawyer but as a citizen.
Law is central to your life; the evolution of society made it so, and the words of John Locke capture its essence:
The end of law is not to abolish or restrain but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.
Like the water in which fishes swim, so is the law all-encompassing and life-sustaining. It is by and through laws that: the government, the armed forces, universities, hospitals, professional bodies, private organisations, trees, roads, cars, water bodies, and even you exist. A piece of legislation, a decree or a policy could have ensured your non-existence. It has happened time and again throughout history. Such is the power and centrality of law. Nothing exists that the law did not enliven except God.
Consequently, be determined to live under the law. Do not be deterred by fools who mock you for your devotion to the law regardless of material or political benefits. Neither should you envy those who try to circumvent justice, “for the mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small.” Being law-abiding is a moral duty for anyone who cares for the community. As a Nigerian, the law thrusts upon you rights and obligations, which you must know. The foundation of these rights and duties is in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; all other rights and obligations build on it. For clarity, the rights inherent and consequent on your existence also demand responsibility: abuse of freedom is as detrimental as the abuse of power. Your fellow citizens are entitled to life, dignity and liberty that you must respect.
Nonetheless, understand some people will assume you are undeserving of your inalienable rights and every other freedom accruing to you. Do not despair, for the law is a sword against them, and you can set it in motion with the help of lawyers. A good lawyer should be able to advise you on the best route to justice. Depending on the facts of the case, you may go to court (this is expensive and time-consuming) or use Alternative Dispute Resolution methods (this is cheaper and faster). The bottom line is that you must never take the law into your hands, you are a mere mortal, and that should humble you.
This brings me to the next thing you must know about the law: it is also a shield. Although I have raised you to be a conscientious young man, you will inadvertently make mistakes and step on the toes of many. In that case, the law can shield you provided you show through your lawyer that it was not your intention to cause harm or that your actions were justifiable. The arm of justice is long and considers all who come under it; the person you wronged deserves justice, but you are in no way undeserving of the protection of the law because you are in the wrong.
The law was made for you and not you for the law. In your journey, you will meet zealots who guard the letters of the law jealously and ignore its spirit. Their rigidity will cause you suffering and unnecessary hardship. Sometimes, you will find redress in courts and other times; you will question the incorruptibility of the justice system. It is sometimes the case in our fallen world. I implore you to be patient with the justice system as it evolves to become more just. Furthermore, whether as a class representative or a minister, when you implement the law (or a rule or policy), learn to err on the side of justice. Consider always what would be the just application of the law (or a rule or policy), for the law is the handmaiden of justice, and you must assist her in carrying out her duties.
The law is an ass. It will make sense sometimes, and other times, it will not. Different legislation (including judicially noticed Native Laws and Customs) will govern your life, and some will be so absurd you wonder how they came about. I want you to understand that laws, in their stupidity and stubbornness, cannot be detached from society’s moral, social, historical or political context. Join reasonable avenues to discuss the amendment or abolition of such laws: no law is ever static. Learn to be patient as its evolution depends on debates and discourse, considering the interests of all and sundry, for the law, is the servant of society.
Have a lawyer you can call, and never wait until you are in trouble before you consult one, for such delay might be fatal to you. There is a reason that ignorance of the law is no excuse. It is impossible for you as a private citizen to know all the laws in force, especially if you do not have a compendium of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria. Besides, some laws get amended or repealed; it is near impossible to keep up. Even if you end up a lawyer, have someone else be your lawyer because every person deserves an advocate to defend their interests and plead their cause.
My baby boy, it is not strength that guarantees your freedom. The freedom the law provides ensures your strength. Endeavour to maintain it by considering these words I have written. My advice is not exhaustive, but I hope they help you remain a responsible, upright and just young man. I hope your adherence to the law enables you to leave this country, and the world, in a better state than you met it.
With Love and Respect,
Mama.
Joanna Bome Kure 
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