Lagos and Onitsha to Meet in the Final of the NBA-YLF Arbitration Challenge
The buzz generated from the virtual oral rounds of the Arbitration Challenge continued Friday, April 30, as the semi-finals between Lagos vs. Port Harcourt and Onitsha vs. Ibadan, respectively.
The competing teams made their oral presentations before two (2) separate arbitral panels comprising leading arbitration experts such as Elizabeth Oger-Gross, Godwin Omoaka S.A.N., FCIArb., Miannaya Essien S.A.N., Funmi Roberts, Nathan Searle and Zelda Hunter.
Both sessions were keenly contested and the winning NBA teams – Lagos (91.88%) and Onitsha (81.79), prevailed over their counterparts – Port Harcourt (91.13%) and Ibadan (80.66%), by extremely thin margins.
Nathan Searle of Hogan Lovells (the Partner and Platinum Sponsor of the maiden edition of the Arbitration Challenge) sat as the Chair of the arbitral panel in the session between Lagos v. Port Harcourt at 11:00 am. He said, “the Dispute Scenario was great and it was a privilege for Hogan Lovells to be involved in this excellent event”.
The finals between Lagos vs. Onitsha is scheduled to hold on May 15, 2021, at 11:00 am. The aforesaid teams will make an oral presentation before an arbitral panel comprised of leading arbitration experts.
Summary of virtual oral rounds for April 29, 2021
The virtual oral rounds commenced on Thursday, April 29, 2021, as the qualifying NBA teams canvassed arguments before their respective panels of arbitrators in four (4) separate arbitration sessions conducted on that day.
After an intense hearing, the NBA teams from Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Ibadan prevailed over their counterparts from Orlu, Ikot Ekpene, Yola and Ilorin, respectively.
Hamid Abdulkareem of Aluko & Oyebode (Chair of the arbitral panel for the session between Ibadan vs. Ilorin) said “this initiative (the Arbitration Challenge) is very laudable. It is important to start inculcating the right values and skills in the future leaders of the bar. There is no better way to do that than to expose them to advocacy in the arbitration context”.
Key Information About the Finals
The final debate will be held on Zoom at 11am, Lagos time. To watch click here (please note the link won’t be live until the date and time of the final)
The winner will take away N500,000 (£945) with N300,000 (£567) available for the first runner-up. There will also be N250,000 (£473) available for best oralist and best-written submission respectively.
