Question 11
ComprehensionJAMB 2026 Passage III: A visitor from the court
On the 21st of June 1994, the Director-General received in his office a visitor, the first of its kind in his life. Even though he really could not make any meaning out of his name, the visitor's second statement that he was a court ________ (11) readily gave the Director-General a clear picture of the man's purpose. He immediately gave to the Director-General two sets of papers. The first was a ________ (12) which was to notify the Director General that he and the agency he represented were being sued for ________ (13) and that he should seek the services of a lawyer who would appear for him on the 6th of July when the case was for mention.
The second paper was on a motion of ________ (14) which, if granted by the court would restrain the Director- General or the ________ (15) from publishing further anything on the staff of the ministry or the ________ (16). The motion was also slated for 6th July
On the day of the mention of the motion, the court became alive as early as 8:30a.m as the ________ (17) was known for his punctuality. He would sit at exactly 9a.m. The plaintiffs, and their counsel were the first to come into the court room, then came the defence counsel. At the dot of the hour, three bangs were heard, immediately after which the court clerk announced the presence of the judge.
In no time the court clerk read out the case and both counsel announced their ________ (18). The counsel to the plaintiffs moved his motion relying on a six-paragraph ________ (19) which contained the facts of the case. In response, the defence counsel argued on the premise of an eight-paragraph ________ (20). The motion was granted accoridng to the merit of the argument of the first lawyer.
The second paper was on a motion of ________ (14) which, if granted by the court would restrain the Director- General or the ________ (15) from publishing further anything on the staff of the ministry or the ________ (16). The motion was also slated for 6th July
On the day of the mention of the motion, the court became alive as early as 8:30a.m as the ________ (17) was known for his punctuality. He would sit at exactly 9a.m. The plaintiffs, and their counsel were the first to come into the court room, then came the defence counsel. At the dot of the hour, three bangs were heard, immediately after which the court clerk announced the presence of the judge.
In no time the court clerk read out the case and both counsel announced their ________ (18). The counsel to the plaintiffs moved his motion relying on a six-paragraph ________ (19) which contained the facts of the case. In response, the defence counsel argued on the premise of an eight-paragraph ________ (20). The motion was granted accoridng to the merit of the argument of the first lawyer.
Passage III, gap 11: he was a court ________ (11) readily gave the Director-General a clear picture of the man's purpose.
- A.bailiff
- B.messenger
- C.litigant
- D.clerk
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: A (bailiff)
Explanation
A bailiff is the court officer who delivers court papers such as summonses, which is exactly what the visitor did.