By WANDOO SOMBO

Long before lawyers adjust their wigs, litigants gather their documents and courtrooms come alive, another daily ritual unfolds outside the Federal High Court in Abuja.

As dawn breaks, the aroma of freshly fried akara fills the air, drawing judges’ aides, lawyers, court staff, journalists, security personnel and visitors to makeshift food stands.

For many, therefore, the workday begins not with legal arguments but with a steaming plate of bean cakes, accompanied by pap, bread or a chilled soft drink.

Among those who have become part of the court’s morning routine are Josephine Katung and a woman known simply as Aunty Jummai.

For years, the two women have quietly served the bustling judicial community, building a loyal clientele in the process.

While most residents are still asleep, Katung is already awake, preparing for another day’s business.

By 4 a.m., she begins grinding beans, slicing onions and peppers, heating vegetable oil and arranging the ingredients that will soon become the golden-brown akara her customers eagerly await.

“When the first lawyers arrive, everything has to be ready, many people don’t have time to prepare breakfast at home, so they depend on us,” she says with a smile.

By 7 a.m., customers begin to trickle in. Within an hour, the small stand is surrounded by familiar faces exchanging greetings before heading into the court complex.

A few metres away, meanwhile, Jummai attends to another growing queue. Her customers hardly need to place orders anymore.

She already knows who prefers extra pepper, who likes pap instead of bread and who simply grabs a takeaway pack before rushing to court.

“This place has become like a family,” Jummai says.

“Some of my customers have been buying from me for many years, we celebrate together when cases end successfully and sometimes encourage one another when things become difficult.”

Over time, such daily interactions have created friendships that extend beyond business.

Lawyers stop briefly to exchange pleasantries, court staff ask after her family, while journalists catch up on their assignments over breakfast.

More importantly, the vendors provide a convenient food option for people whose work often keeps them within the court premises for hours.

Court proceedings can begin early and continue for several hours. Consequently, many people working within the justice sector rely on the vendors for a quick meal before proceedings commence.

“You can’t think well on an empty stomach,” says Mr Douglass Ariyo, a lawyer.

According to him, sometimes lawyers expect their matters to be heard expeditiously, only for the judge to stand them down for some hours or minutes.

“During this period of the stand down, if you have not had breakfast, you cannot dash out of the court to eat because the judge can come in at any time and call your matter.

“So it is better to quickly arm yourself with this sort of healthy breakfast before heading to court,” he says as he heartily chews a ball of akara.

Similarly, a court registrar, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says she does not remember a day when she did not have akara for breakfast at the court.

She says the routine has become so ingrained that, once she gets to court, she heads straight to the car park for akara and pap before beginning the day’s work.

For journalists covering the judiciary, the vendors also provide a practical service.

“Sometimes you leave home before sunrise because you have an early matter to cover but knowing that you can get a quick, affordable breakfast outside the court makes a big difference,” journalist Kunle Olasanmi says.

Other journalists, including Vivian Okejeme and Alex Enumah, share similar sentiments.

For litigants, too, the food stands offer convenience, especially for those who travel long distances to attend court.

Mr Salisu Garba, a litigant whose case has been ongoing for about two years, says he usually stops at the akara stand after leaving home early.

“I live far from the court so I usually leave home very early to avoid traffic and ensure that I get here before my case is called and because of that I often leave without eating breakfast.

“The akara sellers are a big help, because I can quickly eat something before going into the courtroom and I buy from both of them depending on my mood and the crowd,” he says.

Likewise, another litigant, Mr Festus Abati, says akara is a convenient breakfast because it is relatively cheap, filling and readily available around the court premises.

“A plate of akara with pap or bread goes for between N500 and N800 depending on the size but you can get akara for as low as even N100 only that it may not satisfy you,” he says.

Beyond providing breakfast, however, the business has become an important source of livelihood for Katung and Jummai.

Both women told NAN that their earnings support their families, pay school fees and meet household expenses.

Nevertheless, running the business has not been without challenges.

Katung says the rising cost of beans, cooking oil, pepper and other ingredients has steadily reduced profit margins.

“Sometimes the prices increase overnight and we have to balance keeping our customers and staying in business,” she says.

Jummai shares the concern, adding that unpredictable weather and fluctuating patronage also affect sales.

Albeit these difficulties, both women remain optimistic, believing consistency and quality have helped them retain loyal customers.

Indeed, although they operate outside the court gates, the akara sellers have become an important part of the Federal High Court community.

They may never appear before a judge or argue legal principles.

Yet, through their daily work, they help many people begin demanding court days with food and energy.

As lawyers hurry into courtrooms and litigants anxiously await their cases, the sizzling sound of akara frying continues in the background.

In a place associated with laws, arguments and judgments, the simple food stands offer a reminder that everyday life continues alongside the formal pursuit of justice.

For Katung and Jummai, each sunrise brings another opportunity to earn an honest living while serving the community that gathers daily at one of Nigeria’s busiest courts.

Ultimately, their story is one of resilience, enterprise and dignity; a reminder that behind the solemn pursuit of justice are ordinary people whose labour keeps daily life around the court moving, one akara at a time. (NAN)