The Council of Legal Education has released an updated list of 114 universities authorised to run law programmes in Nigeria, warning institutions against admitting students into unapproved Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) courses.
In a circular issued on Friday and signed by the council’s Secretary and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho, the regulatory body said only the listed institutions are permitted to admit students into law programmes across the country.
The council stressed that universities operating law faculties without its approval would face sanctions. It also warned prospective students that those admitted into unaccredited law programmes would not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School, which is required for professional legal training.
“The public is further informed that any university that admits students into a law programme without the approval of the Council of Legal Education is acting contrary to the provisions regulating legal education in Nigeria and will be subject to appropriate sanctions,” the circular stated.
The council explained that the approved list forms part of its responsibility to regulate and maintain standards in legal education in Nigeria. It added that the list would continue to be updated periodically as part of its oversight role.
The Council of Legal Education, established under the Legal Education Act of Nigeria, is responsible for supervising the training of aspiring lawyers and overseeing the operations of the Nigerian Law School.
Some of the institutions cleared to run law programmes include University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, University of Ilorin, University of Benin, and Obafemi Awolowo University, among others.
Several state and private universities were also included on the list, reflecting the growing number of institutions offering legal education in the country.
However, the council noted that some universities are currently under admission moratoriums.
For instance, Baze University is barred from admitting law students for three years starting from the 2023/2024 academic session, while Lead City University is under a five-year admission suspension.
The council advised prospective law students and parents to verify the accreditation status of universities before seeking admission to avoid complications later in their legal careers.
Admission into an unapproved law programme, it said, could prevent graduates from advancing to the Nigerian Law School, effectively stopping them from qualifying as practising lawyers in Nigeria.
The latest circular underscores the council’s commitment to strengthening oversight of legal education and ensuring that institutions offering law programmes meet the required academic and professional standards.
