Making it to the next
round was important to us. We were curious about the next step, fixing our eyes
on the judges. The judges had entered the court, sat down, and called the
results. We had lost to the Host team. Yes, we lost but very much okay with it.
At least we were able to make a show despite appearing in mock for the first
time. Not only that, we emerged as the 3rd Runner up.
We wanted to leave the
next day after the competition but it was a bit difficult for us because we
were compelled to attend a programme organized by the host school. We were privileged
to meet some dignitaries in the programme and took some shots with the judge
who had spoken at the event.
Somehow, we left by the
next day to Bayelsa State. We left without Joseph Ayebanua. Ayenabua had stayed
back for a reason best known to him. I returned to the School and wrote a
letter of appeal to the faculty administration telling them of our experiences.
In my report, I made it clear that we needed to improve on our moot and mock trial,
especially the mock because we practically knew nothing about it. In the report
addressed to the Dean of the Faculty, I made a recommendation stating that a
course connected to Moot Court be introduced into the school curriculum to help
students develop. I wrote the letter in my capacity as the chairman of the moot
and mock trial committee.
Before the report, I
had been conferred already as the chairman of the number one committee. What
happened was that when school resumed, the then president, Inifuro wanted to
make Inimotimi Azi as the Solicitor General of the Faculty of which she
declined despite persuasion. The president was then left with me and one Ebi
Ambrose who happens to be another good advocate in our faculty. The president
though wanted Ebi Ambrose to be the Attorney-General but maybe did not know how
to give me the details. He had to ask us both to settle it out ourselves. That
was to say, while one of us is made the Attorney-General, the other will be
made the Solicitor-General.
I wasn’t okay with the
idea because I believed that it was only wise the president chose whosoever he
feels was good enough for the job. Throwing it at us was not okay by me.
Throwing it open, Ebi Ambrose gave me two options, that it is either I accept
to be the Attorney-General while he will operate as the Solicitor-General and
the Chairman of the Moot and Mock Trial Committee or the other way round.
According to him, there was no how I could lead him in both arms, so to say. After
thinking for a while, I accepted the offer to be the Attorney General of the
faculty and forfeit the chairmanship of the Moot and Mock trial committee. But
the President refused this, he wanted me to head the Moot and Mock trial
committee. I wasn’t okay with the idea for reasons best known to be, but I
later accepted it.
Soon we appeared before
the School Senate for confirmation. The School legislative body refused asking
me questions because they knew that I was the right person for the job, but
they were not happy with the fact that my name was not forwarded as the
Attorney-General of the faculty. Though I wasn’t okay at first, I later
accepted.
But after sometime, the
pressure was just too much. The rested issue resurrected. There were so many side
talks and so I decided in my wisdom to resign as the Solicitor-General of the
faculty. However, I maintained my office as the chairman of the moot and mock
trial committee and until we left the faculty, the office of the Solicitor-General
remained vacate.
Life as a chairman was
an interesting one. I planned to execute so many reforms and since I had a good
relationship with the faculty senate, it was an easy ride for me. My team and I
drafted the budget for the first semester moot competition which ran into the
sum of N30,000 or so. The budget was approved with little amendment. By way of
an innovation, I introduced for the first time, a mock trial for the finals and
drafted two case facts for the competition. The case facts drew some advocates
who had hidden in their shells. The likes of Elvis otiti, David Alwert, Timi
Stanley and so on appeared. The Solomon Miracle led team and the Hope Ogunza
led team had met in the finals with the Solomon Miracle led team emerging as
winners. They were given a little cash prize to encourage them. The competition
was described as one of the best as we had earlier extended an invitation to
the Vice Councilor of the University who could not make it. Yet he sent a
representative. The whole show was interesting and the administration had
started giving support. I was very happy because all these reforms were going
on under my leadership of the committee.
One day, I received A CALL from our lecturer, Dr. Elvis
Imo. I was shocked, because I had never received such a call from her.
“Hello, you must be Ebi
Robert,” the voice asked.
“Yes, I am,” I replied.
“I am Dr. Elvis Imo”.
Immediately I heard the
voice, I became more conscious because I was talking to my lecturer. She told
me that she was told that I was one of the best advocates in the faculty and
that in preparation for the oncoming Space Moot court competition, I should
start reading Space Law materials. I was pleased about the whole gist. I was
happy to have been so recognized and appreciated. So immediately, I went online
and started searching for materials but the informations I gathered were too
vague to comprehend because my knowledge about Space law was shallow. It was a
strange and novel area of the law. So I felt I needed enough time to start
digesting its principles.
For months, I didn’t
bother to check because I was very much busy with other school activities. One
day, I went online to the competition website, only to find out that the day
for the competition was already past. I immediately contacted Mr. Elvis Imo and
told her about the fact that the deadline had passed. Imo who already had a
good relationship with the organizers of the competition contacted them. She
later called me and told me that about four to five days grace or so was given
to us to register. She told me to get myself registered with two other persons.
At that point, I was confused as to who to choose because there were many good
mooters available in the faculty. I was practically placed in the position to
suggest those to go with. So I stated calling name. I mentioned Hope Ogunka
Azinuchi as one of the good mooters which was not objected to. I also mentioned
Ebizi Eradiri who was doing well. Mrs. Imo was pleased with the names mentioned
because they were academically sound. Ebizi Eradiri was a first class student
and Hope one of the best in my class.
I registered our names
in the form provided and submitted it to the organizers. We practically had
about ten days to write a memorial for the applicant and respondent and then
submit. The issues were on International Space Law which was a novel area of
the law; so much reading and research work was needed. I had to go through
about five different text books in eight days. Not only that, we downloaded
close to 60 articles or more and perused all of them by way of skimming. We had
to divide the articles among ourselves to make it easier. Other persons were
brought to the team to help us with the research but they could not help
because it was too tough for them. So myself and Hope took it upon ourselves to
work it out. Ebizi though good, was not really dedicated to the research work
and this kind of weighed us down. We actually elected her out of the team but
she remained with us after an intervention from Mr. Imo.
The research done in
preparation for the Prof. Manfred Lach Space Moot Court Competition was the
greatest research work I ever did in all my ways in mooting. Myself and Hope
had to brainstorm day and night. We missed even classes just for the moot. Together
we wrote the memorials and soon it was the day for submission. The day had come
and we were not yet done with everything. I arrived school in the morning and
started finalizing the writing of the memorials. Hope got ill and said that she wasn’t doing
anything anymore. I spoke to her but she refused because those that were to
help us had left us to ourselves. Just the two of us and the work load was
indeed so much. I didn’t give up. I had to finish it up because it wasn’t
proper staring what one could not finish, I thought. It was indeed frustrating
because students just did not care. After all, they are not the ones
travelling. They had seen it as a means to write one’s name in gold and that
name was just not their name. So why the stress? It was worthless to them.
I worked that faithful
day until night fell. I then had to go over to Hope’s place which was close to
the faculty to finish it up. Only few hours were left to the deadline. I was
communicating with Lulu Makapela, the African Regional Organizer from South
Africa, so it was a bit easier for me. I finished the work in the middle of the
night the same day and submitted it. I was relieved. It was a sacrifice that
worth it. I was okay with the effort because we had to work out an
international memorial in less than 8 days. We hoped for the best, though I
wasn’t really okay with the whole work because the time was short. Time limit
had been a major problem in our competitions and it had affected this one as
well. One basic reason that was responsible was our school calendar. Competitions
mostly came when we are on holiday. Sometimes we also received the information
late.
We had submitted the
memorial even though we were not sure of travelling. Others saw what we were
doing as foolishness. How can we just be working when we are not sure of the
necessary funds of travelling out of the country? But I didn’t see it that way.
To me, it was worth it. I was not desperate travelling abroad. Though I
considered it a wonderful experience, I was sure that someday I will travel
out. Besides, there was much to learn in the quest. Mrs. Imo was dedicated to
our travelling out. She believed in our team. I was the only man in the team,
surrounded by three women. But it was okay by me.
We went to the
immigration office and got our international passports prepared, though the
money wasn’t yet with us. With the eyes of faith I drafted a budget of N1.5
million naira and addressed it to the NDU administration. With the help of Mrs.
Imo we were sure the fund would be released. It was like a joke, we were
already in Lagos in the South Africa Consular office to apply for visa. Our
names had already been sent to the South Africa Embassy. So after two weeks or
so, we were granted visa. It was just like a dream, myself, Hope Ogunka
Azinuchi and Ebizi Eradiri were on our way to South Africa for our official first
International Assignment. Not only was I representing my school, I was to
represent my country as a lead-agent from school to argue before international
judges of high repute.
[Suspense- In next episode, readers will get to know how the
competition went]
STAR ADVOCATE OF THE
EPISODE: Ebizi Eradiri
Ebizi Eradiri was good
in eloquence. Very intelligent, she was an advocate that was multi talented. Ebizi
graduated as the best in her class with a sound first class grade. Many of us
were proud of her and saw her as a good mentor. She represented NDU in
different capacity and also did well in the International Space Moot.