A Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Inyang Ekwo, has called for Moot and Mock Trial exercises to be made compulsory for all students of the Nigerian Law School, describing practical courtroom advocacy as indispensable to the training of future legal practitioners.
Justice Ekwo made the call on Wednesday, while presiding over the 10th Annual Moot and Mock Trial for Nigerian Law School Externs, organised by J-K Gadzama LLP at the Hon. Justice Niki Tobi Moot Court, located on the Pent floor within the J-K Gadzama Court. The programme, an initiative of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Life Bencher, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, is aimed at strengthening practical advocacy skills among aspiring Lawyers.
Represented at the event on behalf of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ekwo commended Gadzama and his law firm for sustaining the initiative over the past decade. He urged the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School to consider making moot and mock trial exercises a compulsory component of legal training, noting that practical courtroom experience is essential to producing competent advocates.
The event attracted leading figures in the legal profession, including the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr Olugbemisola Titilayomi Odusote; the Head of Academics, Dr J. U. Ebuara; Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, OFR, SAN, FCArb; Prof Maxwell M. Gidado, OON, SAN; and representatives of the Body of Benchers. Seventeen Nigerian Law School externs participated in the exercise, assuming various courtroom roles, including counsel, witnesses, registrar and court clerk, while demonstrating advocacy skills in jurisdictional arguments, cross-examination and evidentiary objections.
