Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged winner of the first ECOWAS Court of Justice Moot Court Competition. The competition was held within Niger State, brought together the best law students from eight top universities across West Africa.
The competition was designed to increase legal knowledge and courtroom expertise for students from the region. It was designed to mimic real-world legal proceedings and assess how well the participants comprehend regional laws, specifically ones related to human rights as well as legal issues within the ECOWAS law system.
In the last round ABU’s team fought in the final round against Jos’s University of Jos. Both teams presented compelling arguments before a panel composed of experienced judges. After a tense contest, ABU was declared the winner and was awarded the highest prize of N5 million. Jos University came in second. University of Jos came second and was awarded N3 million.
Judges have praised ABU for their excellent teamwork and professionalism. ABU students for outstanding arguments, cooperation and a sense of confidence. Students demonstrated a deep comprehension of the complex legal issues particularly in the fields of international justice and regional law.
One judge noted, “The performance from all teams was impressive, but ABU stood out for their clarity, research, and presentation.”
The president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Ricardo Goncalves, applauded the effort of the contestants. The competition showed that the region is in good shape and has an exciting legal future driven by talented and young minds. He also declared that the ECOWAS Moot Court Competition will begin to be held each year.
The win is a huge accomplishment for the ABU’s Faculty of Law, which has a long tradition of exemplary legal education. The university’s lecturers celebrated the victory and referred to it as proof of the fact that Nigerian universities are able to compete and be successful in international competition.
Students who took part in the contest said that the competition helped them sharpen their skills as well as give them an understanding of the legal system beyond the walls of their classroom.
This victory will add to ABU’s list of academic accomplishments and boosts its status for being among the best institutions of law across Africa. Many Nigerians have been awed by the team’s dedication discipline, professionalism, as well as their ability to stand up for Nigeria with confidence.
