The Hon. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam Moot and Mock Trial Competition 2.0 has been successfully held at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, with strong participation from judicial officers, government officials, senior legal practitioners, academics and law students.

The competition, hosted by AE-FUNAI, brought together students from the Faculty of Law of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, and the Faculty of Law of Ebonyi State University in a keenly contested academic and advocacy exercise.

The event attracted several dignitaries, including the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila; Hon. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division; Hon. Justice Joseph E. Ekanem, Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division; Hon. Justice Elvis A. Ngene, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State; and Hon. Justice Patrick U. Uho, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Ebonyi State.

Also in attendance were the Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu; the Chairman of Ikwo Local Government Area; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ebonyi State, Associate Prof. Ben Uruchi Odoh; senior Justices of the Court of Appeal; judges of the Ebonyi State Judiciary; members of the Bar; principal officers of the university; and representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, was represented by Barr. Ngozi Ngele. Other notable attendees included Uche Uzo Njoku, SAN, and several judicial officers, including Hon. Justice M. Danjuma, Hon. Justice I.B. Lawal-Akapo, Hon. Justice Nnamdi O. Dimgba, Hon. Justice Victoria T. Nwoye, Hon. Justice B.A.N. Oku, Hon. Justice Vincent N. Nwanchor, Hon. Justice Esther A. Ota, Hon. Justice Blessing I. Chukwu and Hon. Justice Omaka Elekwa.

The competition featured both Moot Court and Mock Trial segments.

In the Mock Trial Competition, AE-FUNAI emerged winner after delivering what was described as a strong performance marked by excellent advocacy skills, procedural accuracy and teamwork. The university won the Mr. Uchenna Uzo Njoku, SAN Star Prize Award for Best Mock Trial Team.

 

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In the Moot Court segment, Ebonyi State University narrowly defeated AE-FUNAI by 75.6 to 74.8 points in a closely contested and intellectually rigorous final.

Awards presented at the competition included the Mr. Uchenna Uzo Njoku, SAN Star Prize Award for Best Mock Trial Competition; the NBA President’s Star Prize Award for Best Moot Competition; the Attorney-General of Ebonyi State’s Prize for Best Moot Competition; and the Justices of the Court of Appeal, Calabar Division Award for Best Mock Trial Competition.

AE-FUNAI students also distinguished themselves in the individual categories. Okuocha Ikechukwu Samuel of AE-FUNAI won Best Counsel in the Mock Trial Competition, while Nwofe Faustina Uzoma, also of AE-FUNAI, won Best Counsel in the Moot Court Competition.

The individual awards were sponsored by Hon. Justice V. Nwanchor, Hon. Justice Omaka Elekwa, Hon. Justice Blessing Chukwu and Hon. Justice Esther Awo Ota of the Ebonyi State Judiciary.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of AE-FUNAI, Prof. Daniel Nwachukwu, commended the initiative and appealed that AE-FUNAI be granted yearly hosting rights for the competition.

Uche Uzo Njoku, SAN, praised Hon. Justice Onyemenam for her contribution to the development of legal education and announced his continued sponsorship of the prize for the best mock trial team.

The Attorney-General of Ebonyi State, Associate Prof. Ben Uruchi Odoh, also commended the initiative, recalling his own experience in moot court competitions as a student. He noted that such competitions are platforms through which future stars of the legal profession are discovered.

The Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Hon. Justice Elvis Ngene, praised the skills displayed by the students, stating that their performance reflected a level of advocacy comparable to that of lawyers who had been in practice for years. He encouraged the students to continue developing themselves and not to relent after the honours won.

Hon. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, in her address, said she was inspired to establish the competition as part of her contribution to the growth of legal education. She noted that beyond the prizes, the advocacy skills, research and courtroom discipline acquired by the students would remain valuable to them throughout their legal careers.

Declaring the competition open, Governor Nwifuru, represented by the Deputy Governor, commended the programme, saying it would help law students develop the practical courtroom skills needed after graduation.

In his closing remarks, the Dean of Law, Prof. Eseni Azu Udu, thanked Hon. Justice Onyemenam for the innovation and assured that the Faculty would continue to strengthen clinical legal education, moot court practice and advocacy training among students.

The Hon. Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam Moot and Mock Trial Competition 2.0 was widely adjudged successful, reinforcing the importance of practical legal training in Nigerian universities.

The event also strengthened academic collaboration and healthy rivalry between participating faculties while showcasing the depth of emerging legal talent in Nigeria.

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