Between J.I.C. Taylor And Contemporary Justice

Between J.I.C. Taylor And Contemporary Justice

An amusing story has circulated about a group of unsuccessful entrepreneurs who, during a meeting to formally dissolve their business due to the challenging economic climate, decided to pivot to a different venture…READ MORE…

One of them suggested they establish a High Court where they could charge exorbitant fees to sell and grant injunctions through ex-parte applications, perhaps in a bid to recover their substantial losses. As humorous and naive as it sounds, this reflects a prevailing public perception of the judiciary and the legal system as a whole.

It is, of course, impossible for individuals to create a court, whether it is inferior or superior, as stipulated in Section 6 of the Nigerian Constitution, which clearly prohibits such cynicism.

In 1962, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola took his removal as Premier of the Western Region to the High Court presided over by Justice Quarshee-Idun, a Ghanaian judge who, rather than exacerbate the crisis in the region, referred the matter to the Federal Supreme Court for interpretation of Section 33(10) of the Western Region Constitution. The Federal Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Akintola’s favor, declaring his removal null and void.

This reflection serves as a tribute to a judicial icon of that time—Justice J.I.C. Taylor—whose legacy remains celebrated.

In the realm of Nigerian legal history, the name “J.I.C” (John Idowu Conrad) Taylor stands like a constant star, illuminating our judicial landscape.

J.I.C. was the fourth child of Eusebius James Alexander Taylor, a renowned lawyer and nationalist affectionately known as the “Cock of the Bar”. His family home was located at No. 5 Victoria Street, Lagos—a street once deemed the most significant in the city, previously referred to as “Ehin Igbeti,” but now known as Nnamdi Azikiwe Street.

J.I.C.’s mother was Remilekun Alice Taylor (née Williams), making him a first cousin of Chief F.R.A. Williams, another legal luminary of his time.

Born on August 27, 1917, J.I.C. Taylor passed away on November 7, 1973, at the age of 56. In his relatively short life, he lived with unparalleled integrity, embodying incorruptibility on the bench, judicial independence, strict adherence to legal interpretation, restraint, courage, remarkable judicial boldness, and unblemished integrity.

He began his education at the Methodist Boys High School in Lagos and was later sent to England by his father to complete his secondary education at Culford School in Bury Saint Edmunds, Suffolk. He then enrolled at King’s College in England in 1936 to study Law before transferring to Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1937, where he earned a Second-Class Degree in Jurisprudence. He was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple on January 14, 1941.

Within just 15 years, J.I.C. Taylor became a prominent figure among Nigeria’s legal elite, emerging alongside figures like Bode Thomas, F.R.A. Williams, and Fani Kayode, who formed the law firm Thomas, Williams, Fani Kayode & Co. (Solicitors). Similarly, S.L.A. Akintola and Chief Chris Ogunbanjo established their partnership as Samuel, Chris & Michael Solicitors in 1952.

Around this time, Obafemi Awolowo also formed a law partnership with Chief Abiodun Akerele, known as Awolowo, Akerele & Co. (Solicitors) in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he was noted as a formidable cross-examiner.

J.I.C. Taylor was known for his resourcefulness, impeccable integrity, and extensive legal knowledge. He was a charming figure at the Nigerian Bar, possessing an excellent command of the English language, crucial in the legal profession, and was always articulate and dignified in his practice.

However, like his father, Eusebius, J.I.C. had a flaw; he could be easily provoked and would sometimes lose composure in court when angered. This trait was often exploited by the late Chief F.R.A. Williams during their legal interactions, while Fani Kayode, although a friend, also took advantage of this weakness.

As a significant figure at the Nigerian Bar, J.I.C. Taylor participated in many celebrated legal cases that became landmarks in our jurisprudence. These included representing King’s College students who protested poor administration during World War II and involvement in the Sedition Trials of editors from the Daily Comet and the West African Pilot of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, as well as the 1947 trial of Anthony Enahoro and the 1952 case regarding the ownership of the “Iga Idunganran,” the official residence of the Oba of Lagos.

He also represented Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani and the African Press Ltd., publishers of The Tribune Newspaper, in 1953, and Zik Enterprises Ltd., publishers of the West African Pilot, in 1955. Dr. Ikejiani, appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1960, was known for his devotion to the railway system and his love for cars.

At the age of 39, in 1956, J.I.C. Taylor was appointed a judge of the High Court of the Western Region. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 1960 and, in 1964, became the Chief Justice of the High Court of the Federal Territory of Lagos.

When Lagos State was established in 1967 and Brigadier Mobalaji Johnson became its Military Governor, J.I.C. Taylor was appointed its first Chief Justice. During his tenure, he exhibited remarkable independence and courage, notably declining an invitation to a state dinner due to ongoing cases before him, demonstrating his integrity.

In contrast to Taylor, judicial figures like Lord Denning in England were known for their judicial activism and deep commitment to justice. Denning famously stated, “unlike my brother Judge here, who is concerned with the Law, I am concerned with Justice.”

When J.I.C. Taylor was simultaneously appointed Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos while serving as Chief Justice, he became known for his strict adherence to principle and integrity. As chair of the Governing Board, his leadership was marked by high standards, according to the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Saburi Biobaku, who found council meetings under Taylor akin to a battlefield.

On September 20, 1970, J.I.C. Taylor resigned as Chairman of the Council due to procedural inconsistencies surrounding staff appointments, insisting that this decision be kept off the agenda for discussion.

A judicial conservative, J.I.C. Taylor believed in the principle of “lex lata,” focusing on the strict interpretation of the law rather than “de lege ferenda,” which contemplates what the law should be.

Despite his stern demeanor, J.I.C. was a cultivated and sociable person. Although he preferred the company of a select few friends, he was an athlete, enthusiast of cricket and motor racing, and a skilled ballroom dancer. He had a fondness for the juju music of artists like Akanbi Wright and I.K. Dairo, even providing financial support to the former.

Taylor’s life was profoundly affected when his only son contracted polio in the late 1950s. According to former Chief Justice Fatai Williams, J.I.C. visited his son daily at the University College Hospital in Ibadan, and this personal tragedy led him to withdraw from public life.

J.I.C. Taylor passed away on November 7, 1973, while still serving as Chief Justice of Lagos State.

In our current era, marked by judicial controversies and a loss of reverence for the rule of law, one must ponder the whereabouts of figures like Justice John Idowu Conrad Taylor, Justice Kayode Eso, Justice Andrew Otutu Obaseki, Justice Bolarinwa Oyegoke Babalakin, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, and others, who upheld the highest standards of ethics and integrity in their judicial practices.

J.I.C. Taylor set an incredibly high benchmark for ethical behavior in the Nigerian judicial system and inspired countless lawyers and judges determined to maintain their integrity amid widespread corruption. The question remains: where have the ethical standards of Taylor’s era disappeared?

As a fitting tribute, General Yakubu Gowon, the then Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria’s Armed Forces, described J.I.C. Taylor in November 1973 as someone who stood out in an age characterized by corruption and intrigue, bringing dignity to the judiciary.

This sentiment reflects our current struggles with the executive lawlessness that permeates the justice system, which was poignantly illustrated in the landmark case of Ojukwu v. Lagos State Government.

May J.I.C. Taylor’s soul continue to rest in peace.

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