Council Bars Atiba University From Law Admissions For 10 Years

The Council of Legal Education has imposed a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University, Oyo State, over alleged deficiencies in its facilities and violations of regulations governing legal education in Nigeria.

The decision was contained in resolutions adopted at the Council’s Third Quarter Hybrid Meeting held on August 13, 2026, at the headquarters of the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.

In a statement signed by Aderonke O. Osho, Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration on Monday, the Council said it approved the moratorium after finding that the university’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law.

The Council also accused the institution of violating its admission policy by admitting and graduating law students without obtaining the requisite regulatory approval.

“The Council also approved a ten-year moratorium in respect of Atiba University, Oyo State, following its finding that the institution’s facilities were inappropriate and inadequate for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law,” the statement said.

It added that the university had “violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without obtaining the requisite approval.”

According to the Council, the moratorium was imposed as a regulatory measure to compel compliance with prescribed standards and strengthen adherence to the regulatory framework governing legal education.

It said the measure was also intended to protect the quality, integrity and standards of legal education in Nigeria.

The development came as the Council approved five universities to commence Law programmes from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The approved institutions 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.

Each of the five universities was approved to admit an initial quota of 50 students into its 100-level Law programme.

However, the Council rejected the application of Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to commence a Law programme, citing “numerous deficiencies” identified during its verification exercise.

The Council also approved upward reviews of admission quotas for several universities.

Bowen University, Ajayi Crowther University and Topfaith University had their admission quotas increased from 50 to 100 students for the 2026/2027 academic session.

North-Eastern University’s quota was increased from 50 to 75 students, while Elizade University’s was raised from 70 to 120 students.

Chrisland University also received an increase from 50 to 70 students.

For the 2027/2028 academic session, Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s quota was increased from 50 to 100 students, while Olabisi Onabanjo University’s quota rose from 170 to 220 students.

The Council said the decisions were based on reports submitted by its Facilities Verification and Accreditation Panel following inspection visits to the affected universities.

The Council of Legal Education is responsible for regulating legal education and the training of prospective lawyers in Nigeria.