TEAM OAU LAW MAKES AFRICA PROUD IN MEXICO

A team of three students from the Faculty of Law, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Osun State recently made
the nation and indeed the continent proud.
The team appeared as Africa’s representatives at the 2016
World Rounds of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot
Court Competition held in Guadalajara in Mexico where
this year’s International Astronautical Congress (IAC)
also held.
The team leader, Adekemi Timilehin narrates the
experience to Lawyard:
Having obtained the ticket to represent Africa in the World
round of 2016 Manfred Lach moot court competition in
Guadalajara, Mexico, the mountain looked
insurmountable. However, before I continue this story, let
me stress that my team is grateful to God because He
alone made it possible.
We journeyed to Abuja in a bid to get sponsorship for the
competition. Our budget was N7.3m and it was obvious
that we could not sponsor ourselves.
By His grace and after several discussions, the Ministry of
Science and Technology agreed to sponsor us.
Rehearsals were intense because we knew our opponents
were equally good. Having obtained the needed
documents and sponsorship, we left Abuja for Mexico on
24th of September.
We had a connecting flight to Paris before we headed to
Mexico. We arrived Mexico Sunday night (Mexican Time).
We settled down and waited until the next day to visit the
conference centre for registration and other preliminary
matters.
At the Semi finals, we faced McGill Institute of Air and
Space Law, Canada representing North America region
and we won. Our win was not borne out of luck but what I
call favour because the Canadian team was also very
good.
The judges however commented that they liked our
structure of argument and responses to questions. Hence
they saw us as the better team to proceed to the finals.
Meanwhile, National and Kapodistrian University of
Athens representing Europe region defeated Curtin
University, Australia representing Asia-Pacific region at
the semifinals to equally qualify to the world round.
The final held on a Thursday and both teams were fully
prepared.
The final was presided over by sitting International Court
of Justice (ICJ) judges; Judge Xue, Judge Peter Tomka
and Judge Grevian. The chief judge was Judge Tomka,
being the vice-president of the ICJ.
We argued for the Applicant while Athens argued for the
Respondent.
At the end of both arguments, space law experts walked
up to us and congratulated us on our success but
unfortunately when the ICJ Judges came in, they decided
in favour of the respondent. In other words, Athens won.
The Hall was dead silent as it took some time for persons
in the court room to congratulate the Europe team.
In all we thank God. We left Mexico the next day, that is
Friday and arrived Nigeria safely.
http://www.lawyard.ng/oau-space-law-team-recalls-
how-it-made-africa-proud-in-mexico/
THIS IS GREAT

SOURCE: NAIRALAND