Legal Council Bans Atiba University from Offering Law for 10 Years

The Council of Legal Education has imposed a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University, Oyo State, over inadequate facilities and alleged breaches of regulations governing legal education.

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

According to a statement signed by Aderonke O. Osho, Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, the moratorium followed findings that the university’s facilities were inappropriate and inadequate for establishing and operating a Faculty of Law.

The Council also found that the institution had admitted and graduated students without obtaining the required regulatory approval.

It said the measure was necessary to ensure compliance with prescribed standards and strengthen adherence to the regulatory framework governing legal education in Nigeria.

The Council stated that the action was also intended to protect the quality, integrity and standards of legal education.

Meanwhile, 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 institution was approved for an initial admission quota of 50 students for its 100-level intake.

However, the Council declined approval for Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to commence a Law programme, citing numerous deficiencies identified during its verification exercise.

The regulatory body also approved increases in admission quotas for several universities.

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

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

Chrisland University’s quota was raised from 50 to 70 students.

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

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