“APPELLATE ADVOCACY DEMANDS PRECISION, DISCIPLINE”

By: RABI MUSA UMAR

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has stressed the need for discipline, precision and sound legal reasoning in appellate advocacy, describing appellate practice as a critical pillar for strengthening Nigeria’s justice system.

The FCT Minister made the remarks during the public presentation of the book “Ukala’s Manual on Appellate Practice,” at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

The Minister described the newly released legal text, as an invaluable contribution to the Nigerian legal profession and a critical tool for enhancing the administration of justice, adding that the manual will serve as a vital bridge between legal theory and courtroom practice.

“We are all aware that advocacy at the appellate level is of a fundamentally different character from proceedings at trials. It calls for a higher degree of discipline, clarity of thought, precision in expression, and a deep, assured command of both substantive law and procedural rules.

“It is for this reason that a work of this nature is particularly invaluable. It serves as a vital bridge between legal theory and courtroom practice, offering guidance that is especially beneficial to younger members of the Bar as they develop the confidence and competence required to navigate the demands of appellate litigation” the Minister said.

He commended the author, Emmanuel C. Ukala, SAN, for addressing what he described as a child of necessity born out of the complexities of appellate litigation.

Noting that the initiative was more than an academic exercise, the Minister said it will offer guidance that is especially beneficial to younger members of the Bar as they develop the competence required to navigate the demands of appellate litigation.

“This is not the kind of book that will sit quietly on a shelf. It is the kind that will be relied upon in moments when a lawyer must get it right, because in appellate practice, getting it right is not optional,” Barr. Wike added.

The Minister also reflected on the author’s role in his (the Ministers’) professional development and revealed that he “cut his teeth” at Mr. Ukala’s firm early in his career. He credited the period for instilling in him the values of discipline, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence that continue to shape his professional outlook today.

Barr. Said that Ukala’s manual is a legacy work that will influence Nigerian legal practice for years to come and urged legal practitioners, particularly younger lawyers, to move beyond celebrating the book’s launch and to actively utilize its contents to refine their craft.

The event was attended by high-ranking judicial officers, including the President, National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, other heads of court, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, members of the Body of Benchers, legal practitioners and other dignitaries from across the country, while Joseph B. Daudu SAN and Ferdinand O. Orbih SAN, reviewed the book.