The Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law and Acting Head, Public Law Department, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Dr. Ferdinand Agama, has said that Moot Court Competition is a judicial proceeding embarked by law students all over the world for the purpose of practical experience of legal system.
He made this remark in a chat with the NOUN News correspondent during the 2023 Moot Court competition held in the South-east zone in Enugu, Enugu State.
Agama said that it is part of training given to those undergoing legal education especially for the undergraduate programme.
According to him, “a realistic court situation was set up, with students acting as advocates and presenting each side, plaintiff and defendant, using evidence.They argue with each other to prove their position Infront of the judge, who, then, renders his verdict and determines the winner based on the relevant questions of law.”
He reiterated that it is a miniature version of a real courtroom where legal processes and trials are held.
Commenting on its importance to students, Agama opined that it enables them to demonstrate their ability to think creatively, answer convincingly when questioned and demonstrate their oratory, writing and persuasive skills.
He added that it stirs up students’ interest in what they have come to do in the university as well as helping them to discover their potentials as far as legal practice is concerned.
Students who participated in the exercise were drawn from all the study centres in the South -east region of NOUN.
Earlier, the Enugu study centre director, Prof. Alexander Uche Onyia, while declaring the event open, had charged participants to prove and demonstrate their academic prowess and intellectualism.
The exercise, which started on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 ended on Thursday, October 5, 2023 in a grand style.
