The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has approved five universities to begin offering Law from the 2026/2027 academic session.
But it also placed Atiba University, Oyo State, under a 10-year moratorium after finding that the institution breached its regulatory requirements.
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The five universities approved to begin Law are Amadeus University, Amazi, Abia State; Akwa Ibom State University; European University of Nigeria, Abuja; Oduduwa University, Ipetu-Modu, Osun State; and Peaceland University, Enugu State.
The council approved an initial quota of 50 students for each university’s 100 Level intake.
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In a statement posted on Sunday on its Facebook page by Aderonke Osho, Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, the council reached the decisions at its third-quarter hybrid meeting on 13 August at the headquarters of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.
The council stated that it considered reports from its Facilities Verification/Accreditation Panel before approving the five institutions.
“The Council, however, declined to grant approval to Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to commence the study of Law, owing to the numerous deficiencies identified during the verification exercise,” the statement said.
The approvals come about two months after the council released an updated list of 117 universities authorised to admit students into Law programmes.
In that list, the council warned universities against admitting students without its approval and cautioned prospective students against enrolling in unaccredited Law programmes.
“Students admitted into Law programmes in universities that are not accredited by the Council of Legal Education will not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School,” read the statement.
It also warned that universities that admit students into law programmes without its approval violate regulations that govern legal education in Nigeria. It further declared that such institutions risk sanctions “in accordance with extant regulations and policy.”
Some universities get higher quotas
While expanding the number of institutions allowed to offer Law, the council also increased the admission quotas of some existing Law faculties.
Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, and Topfaith University, Mpatak, Akwa Ibom State, had their quotas increased from 50 to 100 students for the 2026/2027 academic session.
The council also approved revised quotas for North-Eastern University, Gombe; Elizade University; Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State; Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ilesa, Osun State; and Olabisi Onabanjo University, Iwoye, Ogun State.
Some of the revised quotas will take effect from the 2027/2028 academic session.
Why Atiba got 10-year moratorium
The council’s decision on Atiba University was more severe.
It said the university’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for establishing and operating a Faculty of Law.
The council also found that the university had admitted and graduated students without obtaining the required approval.
It described the 10-year moratorium as a necessary regulatory measure to bring the institution into compliance with prescribed standards.
The decision comes against the backdrop of the council’s broader efforts to enforce accreditation requirements for Law programmes nationwide.
983 fail Bar Final resit
The council also approved the results of the May 2026 Bar Final (Resit) Examination.
Of the 1,955 candidates who sat for the examination, 983 failed.
A total of 885 candidates passed, while 55 obtained conditional passes.
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The results of 19 candidates were withheld, while 32 candidates were absent.
Five candidates barred over misconduct
Five candidates found guilty of examination misconduct during the December 2025 Bar Final Examination were disqualified and barred from sitting the examination for 10 years.
The council also approved sanctions against two students found culpable of other acts of indiscipline.
In another disciplinary decision, the council withdrew the Best Graduating Student in Professional Ethics prize from its recipient.
The council noted that the decision followed the circulation online of a photograph showing the recipient in attire it considered inconsistent with professional standards and decorum.
Council chairman, Emeka Ngige, commended members for their contributions to legal education.
He thanked the management of the Nigerian Law School, led by its Director-General, Olugbemisola Odusote, for its continued work.
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