Campus News

Law Faculty wins national moot court contest on disability rights

By Tajudeen Babamale

The Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, has emerged victorious in the maiden edition of the Wahab Egbewole SAN National Disability Rights Moot Court Competition. The University’s team, comprising Mr. Ologunde Ajibola and Mr. Opoola Opeyemi, both 500-level Common Law students, clinched the coveted trophy after a keenly contested final round.

The competition, which drew participants from several Law Faculties across the country, culminated in a gripping semi-final and final phases, where only four universities advanced. At the final round which was held last Thursday (May 15, 2025), at the Moot Court of the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, the host institution slugged it out with Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan, and emerged champions. Lead City University took second position, while the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, came third.

In his remarks, before announcing the results, the chair of the judging panel, Hon. Justice M. O. Folorunsho of the Kwara State High Court, commended both the applicant (University of Ilorin) and the respondent (Lead City University) on their outstanding performance throughout the competition. He praised the depth of their legal reasoning, clarity of presentation, and eloquence.

While saying that some lawyers who have been called to the Bar would struggle to match what these students have done, Justice Folorunsho said that their arguments were perfectly researched and impeccably presented, adding that the arguments canvassed by the parties were excellent and their presentations, command of language, knowledge of the law, and application of the law to facts were top-notch.

 In a goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, appreciated all the universities that participated in both the preliminary and final rounds of the competition, noting that the success of the event was made possible by their involvement.

 He revealed that he had initially resisted the idea of naming the moot competition after himself. “When the idea was first broached, I resisted it, mainly because it was going to be the ‘Wahab Egbewole Moot Court’. Yes, it was focused on disability rights, but I felt it was important to clearly define our processes.”

He said, “Time has a way of creating narratives, and if I were not the sitting Vice Chancellor, it might have been a different conversation. But the fact that I currently hold this office could have sent the wrong signals. That’s why I initially resisted, until I could no longer stop it. But in the end, I am grateful to the organisers for bestowing me with this great honour”.

 While speaking on his long-standing commitment to disability rights, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained that the issue is close to his heart and perhaps one of the reasons why the organisers built the moot competition around the theme.

The Professor of Jurisprudence  and International Law spoke on the universal nature of disability, however, said “My take is that we are all actually disabled in one way or another, and there is a very thin line between ability and disability. You can become disabled at any moment. For me, it is important to emphasize the need to take care of all of us, irrespective of our status in life.”

He expressed deep appreciation to all the sponsors of the competition and expressed the hope that the powerful legal arguments and perspectives presented during the moot court sessions would resonate beyond the courtroom, influencing broader conversations and policies on disability rights.

 Prof. Egbewole also acknowledged the ECOWAS Court of Justice for its support and for sending a representative to serve on the panel of judges, describing their involvement as a meaningful validation of the competition’s importance.

 Also speaking at the grand finale, a panelist and representative of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Mr. Oludayo Fagbemi, expressed strong admiration for the outstanding performance of the participating students. He described the standard of advocacy demonstrated during the competition as highly impressive and a positive sign for the future of legal practice within the ECOWAS region.

In a chat with UNILORIN Bulletin, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Nimah Modupe Abdulraheem, explained the importance of providing students with practical legal experience, noting that the Wahab Egbewole SAN National Disability Rights Moot Court Competition was designed not just as a simulation, but as a serious, professional training exercise.

            Prof. Abdulraheem explained that the Faculty deliberately invited judges from the ECOWAS Court of Justice and other African jurisdictions to serve on the panel to ensure that the competition mirrored real-life courtroom proceedings. According to her, although it was a moot court event, the Faculty approached it with the seriousness and authenticity of actual legal practice.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Egbewole-Banjo Foundation, Mallam Aliu Badmus, lauded the initiative as a powerful demonstration of the role of Law in advancing social justice and human dignity.

Represented by Dr. Barakat Adebisi Raji, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Jurisprudence and International Law at the University of Ilorin, Dr Badmus described the event as more than just an academic exercise. He said it was a beacon of advocacy, knowledge, and inclusion of a transformative platform where future legal professionals are not only trained to argue the law but to engage with the realities of disability rights with compassion, courage, and intellectual rigour.