Legal council bans Atiba varsity from offering law for 10 years

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

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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.

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In a statement signed by Aderonke O. Osho, Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, and posted on the Council’s official page on Monday, the moratorium followed its finding that Atiba University’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law.

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It also said the institution violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without obtaining the requisite approval.

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“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 Council said.

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It added that the institution had admitted and graduated students without obtaining the requisite approval.

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“The Council further found that the institution had violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without obtaining the requisite approval,” it stated.

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According to the Council, the 10-year moratorium was imposed as a regulatory measure to ensure compliance with prescribed standards for legal education.

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The Council said the decision was also aimed at reinforcing adherence to the regulatory framework and protecting the quality, integrity and standards of legal education in Nigeria.

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

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The institutions approved to begin with an initial admission quota of 50 students for their 100-level intakes 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.

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The Council, however, declined to grant approval to Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to commence a Law programme, citing “numerous deficiencies” identified during its verification exercise.

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It also approved upward reviews of admission quotas for several universities.

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

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

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Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s quota was raised from 50 to 100 students, while Olabisi Onabanjo University’s was increased from 170 to 220, with both changes taking effect from the 2027/2028 academic session.

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The Council said the decisions followed reports from its Facilities Verification and Accreditation Panel after visits to the affected universities.

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