Nigeria, July 30 -- It is always my tradition to share certain past stories in my life during landmark birthdays. The stories come from my stocktaking on my experiences over the years, and the journey that has taken me to my present station.

As my 60th birthday approached, I had been wondering whether I acted properly on an occasion that happened shortly after my 40th birthday. That was in 2006. The recent Call-to-Bar ceremonies for new lawyers in Abuja earlier this month also made the 20-year-old incident ceaselessly tug at my conscience.

It happened in August 2006 at the Nigerian Law School campus on Victoria Island, Lagos, the place where some old lawyers call 'the original Law School.' This is because it is the oldest of the law sch...