The Judges were good.
They questioned us all intelligently, as expects that they were. One of the
judges was interested in our team because she liked the way we argued, but she
was swapped when it was my turn to argue. Soon it was time for the results. The
judges sat as usual and called the names of the two teams that had made it to
the final. The University of Pretoria, South Africa and the Obafemi Awolowo
University had made it to the final.
We didn’t make it to
the final, but at least, we were happy that a Nigerian University had made it
to the finals. We were proud of our Nigeria and of who we were. The final was
to be held the next day so we all prepared ourselves to see the contest. I was
yet to see other teams argue apart from the teams we contested against, so the
final was a golden opportunity for me to see others argue. Not only was I to
use it as a medium to improve my advocacy skills, it was a medium to also learn
others things that I could take back to improve mooting in my school.
The day came and we
were all set. We entered into the moot court and saw a great contest of advocates.
The South African team was great. One white dude and a black folk had
represented the team. They were just so organized with their team. Present with
the team was their former team coach, a white girl, the current coach at that
time who was also a fat white girl, as well as other advocates. The OAU team as
also argued beautifully well. Their style of argument was full of logic that
was quite persuasive. They were able to analysis the case facts from a point of
view hardly anticipated by other contestants and yet so reasonable. The judges
nodded their head in support as they marshaled out their points in turns. Minutes
after, all teams had finished arguing and then it was time for the results. The
results were announced and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) had won the
competition. Sure, Nigeria had won. The University of Pretoria had emerged 1st
runner up with the Mount Kenya Team emerging the second runner up. The OAU team
emerged with the award for the best memorial while John Obera won the award of
the best Oralist.
The final results broke
our heart badly because we had ended the competition with no award whatsoever. Our
lecturer cried for she couldn’t hold herself. Though the country had been
lifted high by OAU, the NDU team was going back home with nothing to show for
it. I was not happy at all, not because we didn’t do well but because we had
always been faced with this same issue of not having enough time to prepare. We
always went or prepared for competitions at the late hours and this was one
issue that affected my days of mooting back then in school. That needed to be
stopped but this wasn’t just the issue, the attitude of the students by leaving
everything to one or two persons to handle during moot competitions was
another. There was little of o cooperation at all. I got to realize later that
the Devil was also having his fight against me. I have my reasons for saying
so.
I went back to the
hotel sad. Jackie from Kenya consoled me but there was just no need for it,
because I never wanted to be pitied.
All the Africans except
for the South African team had a get together. We spoke at length discussing
several topics. Hope Ogunka and Ebizi Eradiri were busy forming English girl
but for me, it wasn’t necessary. I am a ghetto boy from the creeks and there
should be no pretense about it. I was busy speaking Pidgin English with other
Africans who enjoyed everything I was doing. It was so interesting to them and
they enjoyed how I went about it. In fact I started teaching the Ugandans some
words in pidgin and they were busy laughing, and learning as well. It was quite
interesting as we spoke so much about Nigerian movies, the Mark angel comedy,
our economy and lots more.
It was the last day,
and we were already set to leave for Nigeria. We took our morning breakfast and
had our last discussion together. It was a melancholic state as we bid
ourselves farewell. We returned to Johannesburg and boarded our flight back to Nigeria.
On the plane, we also met a Nigerian who represented Nigeria in a MTN organized
competition, I guess. We shared our experiences together as we journeyed back. The
whole scene was beautiful seeing ourselves above the blue cloud and competing
with the birds in flight.
We arrived Nigeria in
the evening around 8:00 pm or so. The differences between both airports were so
much. The Nigerian International airport was hot. Even the sockets were badly
arranged with some already pulled out. Nothing was just completely normal. I
had seen a different environment and understood better how lagging we are
behind.
We boarded a cab, lodged
in a hotel and returned back to Nigeria the next day. Getting home, we were
welcomed. Those folks who were good at criticizing had started doing so as
usual but there was just no need minding them. I shared my experience in South
Africa to the president of the faculty and recommended some things to do in
order to improve the system. As for me, I was already leaving and I was leaving
better. I had gotten to the peak of my career as a mooter. I had gone National
and also international. And not only did I represent my school, I had also
represented my Country. It was one of the highest feats to be attained. Yet I
wasn’t fulfilled, because I was yet to win an award for my school. The last
time I checked, I won the gold medal for the high school I attended, but such
was yet to repeat itself in the university in all the competitions I had
attended. But I was already leaving and that dream could not be fulfilled, I
thought.
It was the faculty Law week
and I was expected to invite an outside school for a moot match. After a talk
with the president, I invited the Obafemi Awolowo University over to Bayelsa
State. With the budget I had prepared, we invited the school team, lodged them
in a hotel and took care of them within the period of the competition. My
intention was to let our school see how organized and matured their mooting
system was. We had the match with their school the same day the dinner was to
be held. Joseph Ayebanua, Kprake Joshua and Rebecca Angesse had represented NDU
against the OAU team. The OAU team was great. They of course did what they knew
how to do best likewise our team. But unfortunately for them, it wasn’t their
day. The OAU had fallen to the NDU team. Well to me, it was just a friendly
match and there was nothing too serious about it. We proceeded to the dinner
and had a wonderful night. It was the last dinner night I was to experience. The
atmosphere was great for me. I had done my bit for the University and none
could contest that fact. Before the presence of some dignitaries, I was awarded
with AN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for my
good works as a team coach and chairman of moot court committee of my school.
It was so exciting to be recognized with that. It was worth it, I deserved it
and many knew I did.
The OAU team was happy
for the treatment given them. They related the gesture to their faculty and we
were eulogized for it. But the school did not stop there. They had invited us
to a moot court competition organized by the 91 Alumni of their school. We
refused the invitation because there was no time and other students were
writing their exams. But the OAU team wanted us to appear. The only students
available were the 500 level students which happened to be our class set, and
our class set had already passed out. The pressure was so much. So….
[Suspense- In next episode, readers will get to know whether we went
for the competition]
STAR ADVOCATE OF THE
EPISODE: Rebecca Angesse
I discovered Rebecca in
year one I guess. I call her lady of eloquence. She had a great speed and was
even smart. Beautiful and bold, she was good at giving our team enough marks at
any match she appeared. She saw me as a model and a coach, but I saw her as the
future of mooting in the faculty. If Rebecca were to meet you in a match, just
pray she doesn’t know the law else she shall have you flawed.
COMING SOON!!!
HONEY HILL:
Honey Hill is the story of a young girl who lost sight of her mum for many
years, and in quest to search for her mum uncovered many secrets of the past that
hunted her innocent life. It is a story of love, revenge and tears!
Please drop your comments here, I
will really appreciate it!!