Council of Legal Education Approves Law Programmes for Five Universities, Releases Bar Exam Results

Wale Igbintade

The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has given approval to five universities to commence intake of students for Bachelor of Law (LLB) Degree.

The affected universities are: University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State, Maduka University, Ekwegbe-Nsukka, Enugu State, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, and the Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Calabar, Cross River State.

A statement issued by the Secretary to the Council & Director of Administration, Ms. A.O. Osho stated that approval was granted following the accreditation reports presented by the Board of Studies, chaired by the Director-General, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN.

The statement added that the decision was reached at the third quarterly meeting of the Council, held on Friday, September 27, 2024 at the council’s Chambers, Nigerian Law School Headquarters, Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under the chairmanship of Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN.

The council also released the results of the June 2024 Resit Bar Final Examinations, where a total of 1,287 students participated.

Breakdown of the results revealed that 19 students were absent, six students received conditional pass, while 463 students failed the exam, resenting 35.98% of the participants.

Also, 796 students passed the examination, one result was invalidated, while two of the results were withheld.

The council also approved the appointment of Mr. Oluwabamigbe Gbenga who has been serving in acting capacity as the substantive Director of Finance and Accounts Department of the Nigerian Law School.

The statement read: “In the same vein the faculties of law in the following universities were not granted approval to commence studies: Tansian University, Umunya, Anambra State. The university was directed to stop the admission of law students immediately until when all the issues highlighted in the Faculty of Law are addressed and the council re-invited for verification.

“Wesley University, Ondo, Ondo State. The university was equally directed to address the multi-dimensional issues highlighted in the Faculty of Law and thereafter re-invite the council for verification.

“The council approved various sanctions in respect of referred admission cases as well as students involved in various forms of examination malpractice and other misconduct.

“The council approved the report and recommendations of the Appointments, Promotions and Disciplinary Committee (AP&DC) headed by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN  for the promotion and discipline of some academic and non-academic staff of the Nigerian Law School.

“The council approved the appointment of Ms. Aderonke O. Osho who had been serving in acting capacity as the substantive Secretary to Council and Director of Administration of the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School for a five  year tenure, subject to the existing revised Public Service Rules (PSR), 2021.

“The council also approved the appointment of Mr. Oluwabamigbe Gbenga who has been serving in acting capacity as the substantive Director of Finance and Accounts Department of the Nigerian Law School.

“On the letters of appeals by Lead City University, Ibadan and Baze University, Abuja, respectively requesting for review of the moratoriums imposed on their law faculties,  the council directed the management of the Nigerian Law School to reply them stating that the moratoriums on the admission of students still stand and that the universities would be revisited by the accreditation team at the appropriate time to ensure their compliance with the council’s directives.’’