The Faculty of Law- The flagship at Baze

Ali AHMAD*

The Faculty of Law at Baze University is undoubtedly among the best in the Nigerian Universities system in view of the quality of staff and the adoption of the Clinical Legal Education method of teaching and mentoring of students. This learning process exposes students to simulation lessons on real life cases and clinical interaction with real life clients in processes managed by experienced Law Clinic Teachers and Licensed Legal Practitioners. The Baze University Faculty of Law LLB programme has identified, and defined, the learning outcomes that support students with experiential learning in line with the goal to produce competent law graduates conscious of social justice and ethical values. To this end, the Faculty offers robust and diverse platforms on experiential learning some of these are chronicled below in the year under review:

1. Discussion on Cybercrime in Nigeria

27th July, 2022 - The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, chaired a Discussion Session with the 500Level Law Students on the “Challenges of the prosecution and investigation of Cybercrime in Nigeria”. The Chairman was received by the Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN, Dayo G Ashonibare (Course Teacher) and Dr. Nasir Baba-Ahmed (Director, Cyber Security Baze University). The Chairman stated that the Commission was established by Section 7 of the EFCC Act and that while crime and population grew astronomically in Nigeria, the security agencies and the infrastructure needed to eradicate crime remained stagnant. He cited the inability of Government to increase the number of police stations and police officers hired to fight crimes and criminals; in comparison to the astronomical rise in both population and crimes. He noted that the Commission recorded 865 and 2220 Cybercrime convictions for year 2020 and 2021 respectively stating outdated laws hinder investigations on Cybercrime in Nigeria.

2. Introductory Training on Arbitration at JICAM

8th & 9th April 2022 - the Clinicians of the ADR Clinic attended an Introductory Training on Arbitration at Janada International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (also known as JICAM). JICAM is an institution for national and international commercial dispute resolution and it settles disputes ranging from corporate, domestic, international trade, investment, etc sources. The essence of this training was to expose the clinicians to the fundamental principles and concepts on Arbitration. The training was also aimed at inculcating in the Cli nicians vital skills needed to specialize in Arbitration as a career and enable them to net work with other lawyers and distinguished panelist.

3. Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic

30th March 2022 - The Alternative Dispute Resolution Clinic of the Baze Law Clinic was launched and inaugurated. The event was successful and memorable with many members of staff in attendance. Mrs Stella Peters (Co-chair of the Law Clinic Committee), Mr Kenechukwu Agwu (Law Clinic Administrator), Dr Nuraen Dindi (HOD Public International Law represented the Dean, Faculty of Law), and Ms Jessica Imuekemhe (ADR Law Clinic Supervisor) gave remarks at the event. The General Manager of JICAM Centre who was the Guest Speaker was elated that to be a partner of the new Law clinic. Dr Dindi, the HOD Public & International Law, represented the Dean and gave an exposition on the importance of ADR in general and in Africa.

Baze ADR Law Clinicians, the HOD, lecturers, Guest Speaker & Attendees, at the launch and inauguration of the Baze

4. RPDN Virtual Exchange Programme 4th March 2022 - The RPDN exchange programme which involved Baze University, Nile University, University of Abuja, Nasarawa State University and partners from the United States of America commenced on the 4th of March 2022. The exchange programme was aimed at understanding the pretrial justice system in both jurisdictions and discussing the role of law clinics in reducing the rates as well as equipping the students with the skills needed to achieve such. The programme was divided into 5 parts spreading across 5 weeks and it included: Reducing Pretrial Detention, New Developments in Criminal and Legal Aid in Nigeria and the U.S, Best Practices in Client Interview and Counselling, Ethics in Criminal Defense and Approaches to the Bail System. There were sessions from various legal practitioners in Nigeria and the USA as well the participation of some judges based in Washington D.C who were elated about the programme and shared personal experiences and thoughts on the subject matter. About 50 students from the Baze University Law Clinic participated in the programme and NULAI Nigeria donated a digital 360 degree camera to the Law Clinic.

5. Tutor with Love Project 2.0

TUTORwithLOVE (‘TwL’) is a two-day programme initiated by students in 21C semester and led by Igrubia Pamela Collins (Representative of the IHL Clinic) and Favour Onoja, (Assistant Representative of the IHL Clinic). It is a platform for clinicians to visit the Internally Displaced Persons Camp, to teach children and disseminate the knowledge of IHL. TwL is also an advocacy to raise awareness to the educational needs of the children in the IDP Camps and their right to quality education regardless of their displacement.

As a Clinic, all Outreach Activities are in partnership with the New Kuchigoro IDP and TwL was launched there. However, in 22C Semester, the project had to include the Karon Majigi IDP Camp. Karon Majigi serves as home to persons who have been displaced due to armed conflicts in their homes and primary places of abode. On February 19th, 2022, the Representatives of the IHL Clinic took a site assessment to the Karon Majigi IDP Camp. It is a decrepit camp and apart from a humble structure donated by ‘The Coalition of Muslim Women in Nigeria’, there are no facilities for a school or for teachers because parents do not have resources for such ventures. Due to the intervention of the Baze IHL Clinic, Karon Majigi IDP Camp is now part of the TwL project, and clinicians advocate on their behalf with respect to educational needs of the children.

The Action Plan of the Clinic for TwL included: a.Tutoring the primary school pupils [Primary 1-5] b.Teaching the following subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Civic Education, Physical & Health Education (PHE), Social Studies, Home Economics and General Science. c.Provision of teaching material including: White Boards, Markers, Pens, Pencils, Erasers, Rulers, Notebooks, Football and Skipping Ropes for physical exercises, Mats to siting on the floors in place of chairs and Refreshments for the children during break time. d.Days of tutoring are weekends (Friday and Saturday) and Class Time is 9:00am-1:30pm. Many clinicians volunteer as Tutors and others provide financial support which has made the TUTORwithLOVE project a huge success in Semester 22A, B & C.

At the end of the TwL Project, the participating Tutors/Clinicians including: Igrubia Pamela Collins Maryam Gidado Malami, Winnie Eka-Williams, Utibeabasi Israel Utit, Divine Brown, Sekinah Adeyemi, Xenelli Isangedighi and Divine Kefas had an Assessment Round Table Discussion. The participants concluded that TwL Outreach in Karon Majigi IDP Camp was successful as it achieved its objective of disseminating the knowledge of IHL to the children and raising public awareness on the plight of children’s education in the camp; however, there is more to be done so that Government and NGOs can take up the responsibility of managing this camp. After TUTORwithLOVE22A, the general recommendation was the need for a long-term plan for the Karon Majigi IDP Camp.

6. Inter University Debate

28th July - 1st of August 2022- Baze University Law students participated in an inter university debate on the Use And Abuse Of Technology organized by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficked Persons (NAPTIP) in commemoration of the World Day against Human Trafficking,

The Faculty of Law was represented by three students; Asiya Garba 500Level, Chibueze

Onwuchelu 300Level and Precious Agala 200Level all of whom emerged overall winners in the competition.

*Prof. Ali AHMAD is the Dean of the Faculty of Law