Alex Enumah in Abuja
As part of efforts at enhancing adjudication in aircraft financing cases, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, in collaboration with the Federal High Court, organised a Moot Court Competition on the Cape Town Convention.
The CTC Moot Court, which was created under the auspices of the Cape Town Convention Academic Project (CTCAP), with UNIDROIT and the University of Cambridge, aims to familiarise students, academics and Judges with the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol in the context of complex hypothetical facts patterns, and provides students with educational exercises involving the CTC in a simulated judicial setting.
While 18 universities, drawn from all the nation’s six geopolitical zones, participated in the preliminary round, the University of Benin and University of Lagos, however, made it to the final which held at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.
Speaking shortly after the court session, the Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Chris Najomo, while commending participants, observed that the CTC “has actually put Nigeria in a better perspective to aircraft lessors and general aviation business in Nigeria”.
Najomo, who was represented by Captain Donald Tonye Spiff, noted that, before now, most airline manufacturing or leasing companies did not want to do business in Nigeria, adding that with the CTC, assurances have been given.
Najomo added: “Through the efforts of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, SAN, we are now in the good books of these organisations.
“And, this is an enlightenment programme to tell the world that we have arrived, and we are ready to do business”, he said.
In his remarks, the Secretary General of the Aviation Working Group (AWG), Jeffrey Wool, observed that the moot court is one of the ways to introduce students and get them familiarised with the treaty.
“We note that the court recently passed a Practice Directive on how to address Cape Town Convention cases, this is an opportunity in the educational setting for us to become familiar with the treaty and to give the students a firsthand experience working with Judges, industry and academics”, Wool said.
The Secretary General who also doubles as a Co-Director of the Cape Town Academy Project, commended the performance of the students, describing it as “excellent”.
“I have the honour of being at the five other moot courts around the world; Cambridge, Singapore, New York, Ireland and Canada. The students really performed, compared to top universities around the world. They should be proud of themselves”, he said.
Also in her remarks, Justice Binta Nyako who led two other Justices; Joyce Abdulmalik and James Omotosho, lauded the performance of the two sides, adding that, they all gave a very good account of themselves.
Meanwhile, Osauyi Temiloluwa Agboanwaneten the lead counsel in the University of Benin’s team) came first in the area of advocacy, Adedayo Michael (the lead counsel in the University of Lagos’ team) came second.
Falotan (of the University of Lagos) came third, while Bawi Toluwaleyi Testimony came fourth.
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