Following the breaking news of Six ESUT Graduates who bagged First-Class Honours at the 2024-2025 Nigerian Law School Bar Finals, ESUT Monitor had an exclusive interview with one of the great ambassadors of the university, Mr Onovo Chiagozie Precious.

In this interaction, Mr Onovo recalled how his failed mission to achieve First-Class Houours at the undergraduate level in ESUT spurred him to aim for the coveted prize at the Nigeria Law School, Port Harcourt Campus.

The young scholar who hails from Nkanu East, Enugu State, wishes to major in Corporate and Commercial law.

What was you feeling like when you got the report?

I felt most satisfaction and pride. Achieving a First-Class at The Nigerian Law School is a feat I have dreamed for ever since I stepped into ESUT Law Faculty and I felt proud that I achieved this heart-desire. I had a reminder on my app that displays everyday at 8am that reminded me every morning before lectures of my ultimate goal while at The Nigerian Law School. I also had a community of people that targeted First-Class as friends while on campus.

What are your experiences at the Port Harcourt Campus?

What I consider the most formative experience at the Nigerian Law School is the realization that the academic requirement was bulky, while there was relatively little time to prepare. This realization shaped my stay and experience on campus as it directly led to dropping time consuming habits which would not lead to my goal of attaining a First-Class. At The Port Harcourt campus where I attended, I had an amazing time as the lecturers were adept at teaching, the lecture hall was well air conditioned and spacious which enhanced learning, while the bar aspirants from ESUT also had a community where we exchanged ideas, asked questions amongst one another and offered a helping hand, all in a bid to ensure that no bar aspirant from ESUT was left behind.

Did you graduate with First-Class at your undergraduate level?

I did not graduate with First-Class from ESUT. I finished with a Second-Class Upper Division and emerged as the 7th best graduating student in my class of 2023. Regarding what I did differently at The Nigerian Law School, I’ll put it down to two things: clarity and determination. Having not made my desired grade at undergraduate level, I sought clarity as to my shortcomings, and with a better understanding of what led to them, I became even more determined to make a First-Class, especially since I believe I was not far off it at undergraduate level. Determination of the type which amounts to spending 15-hours out of every 24 in each day either studying, revising, working on class tasks and virtually spending all day at the library, up until closing hours.

What is your message to junior ones?

My message to the junior ones is to cultivate a habit of studying and diligence. The Nigerian Law School can be brutal in their assessment and expectations and only a well-equipped mind can navigate the storm. Whatever grade you desire, you must commit to putting in the effort from the very first day, up until the last, there are no days off.

Would you practise?

I intend to practice as a Corporate and Commercial lawyer, while also having time and resources for litigious issues.

What is your aspiration?

⁠My aspiration is to navigate my time at the bar successfully and God willing, to make it to the bench after years of stellar practice.

The post “I Spent 15 Hours Each Day, Readying, Attending Lectures at Law School” – Chiagozie Onovo, ESUT First-Class Law Sch. Graduate appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

The Faculty of Law, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) held series of activities between May and June to reposition the faculty, promote its image as well as improve on the students’ overall performance.

The activities kicked off with the participation of the Faculty of Law in Amnesty International Inter-universities competition held in Abuja and ESUT, represented by Joel Obumneme, 400 level student, came 3^rd.

This was followed by 2024 Research Seminar for final students with six speakers including Professor Festus Ukwueze of University of Nigeria, Nsukka, delivering lectures. Other speakers were Associate Professor C.J Nwabuze, Head of Business Law Department, ESUT.

Second on the line was Mock Trial held at the Faculty Moot Court on June 27, 2024. The Mock trial was presided by the Hon. Justice Cyprian Ajah of Enugu State High Court who was also a key note speaker.

The faculty also held a Colloquium on June 28 themed: “Plea Bargain under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act: A Conduit for Corruption in Justice Delivery”. His Worship, N.V. Anibeze, Magistrate Court, Agbani was the note speaker. Hon. Justice M,O. Eluke of Court of Justice, Enugu State, chaired the colloquium.  

Speaking on the essence of the activities, Law Clinic Coordinator and a member of the organizing committees for the programmes, Dr Chijioke Uzoma Agbo told ESUT Monitor.  

“Since May, we have been engaged in a number of activities. Prominent among which is the nationwide inter-university debate competition organized by Amnesty International for all public universities in Nigeria. University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, ABU and so on, were in attendance. Out of all these students, our dear student Joel Obuneme, a 400 level student represented the faculty and the university. He won second runner up which is great honour for the university.

“Secondly we have been able to bring practical aspect of Law training into the university, courtesy of our Dean. We organized what we called a mock trial for our students and had the Honourable Justice C.O. Ajah, a Judge of the High Court Of Justice in Enugu State presided over the mock trial.  It was held at our moot court on Thursday the 27th of June 2024.

It was a huge success, and the moot was filled to its capacity and the student learnt a lot we had our students and advocates, they wore their wigs and gowns and argued about issues of Law.

“As a follow up to that, we also had a colloquium, the focus on the colloquium was a “plea bargain under the administration of the criminal act of Nigeria a conduit for corruption”. The colloquium, apart from enlightening everybody and making us to know the state of the law, was also an eye-opener and it challenged the practice. Questions were as this were raised. Plea Bargain has used in other places like the United States of America and it has been working. But in Nigeria, things are abused and used in a negative way that is why we are saying that it is not right

“The colloquium took place on Friday the 28th day of June 2024 and it was also done at our moot court at law faculty. It Was presided over by the Honourable Justice Matthew Enuoge, a judge of the High Court in Enugu State .

“He chaired the event and the lead speaker is the learned chief magistrate of the Agbani division of Agbani district of the magistrate court of Enugu state and her name is His worship NV Anibueze she gave a very refulgent discourse on the topic and everybody that attended was indeed very impressed and of course at the end of it all our students were exposed more. Both the student and lectures also crossed fertilized ideas and learnt a lot,” Dr Agbo noted

Dr Agbo provided further insight on what plea bargain is all about. According to him “Plea bargain talks about the notion that someone who embezzled ₦100 billion, instead of being prosecuted and jailed, he can reach an agreement with the prosecution and pay maybe ₦10 million or ₦20 million and then he will be left off the hook. He will now go away carrying the loot and go and enjoy the money. The judge will tell him to go and sin no more. We are wondering whether it is a way of seeing that justice is served or it is a way of exploiting the people of Nigerians.”

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