Council Of Legal Education Bans Atiba University From Offering Law For 10 Years
The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has imposed a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University, Oyo State, prohibiting the institution from offering law programs due to deficiencies in its facilities and violations of legal education regulations.
This decision was adopted at the Council’s Third Quarter Hybrid Meeting on August 13, 2026, which took place 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, and published on the Council’s official page, the CLE determined that Atiba University’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for establishing and operating a Faculty of Law.
The Council further found that the university violated its admission policy by admitting and graduating students without securing the necessary approval.
The Council said it imposed the 10-year moratorium as a regulatory measure to ensure compliance with prescribed standards for legal education, reinforce adherence to the regulatory framework, and protect the quality, integrity, and standards of legal education in Nigeria.
Additionally, the Council approved five universities to commence law programs beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session.
Each institution was granted an initial admission quota of 50 students for their 100-level intake: Amadeus University, Amazi, Abia State; Akwa Ibom State University; European University of Nigeria, Abuja; Oduduwa University, Ipetu-Modu, Osun State; and Peaceland University, Enugu.
The Council declined to approve Maranatha University, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, to initiate a law program, citing “numerous deficiencies” identified during its verification exercise.
Separately, the Council approved increases to admission quotas at several universities.
For the 2026/2027 academic session, Bowen University, Ajayi Crowther University, and Topfaith University had their quotas increased from 50 to 100 students. North-Eastern University’s quota was raised from 50 to 75 students, Elizade University’s from 70 to 120, and Chrisland University’s from 50 to 70.
Joseph Ayo Babalola University’s quota increased from 50 to 100 students, and Olabisi Onabanjo University’s from 170 to 220, with both changes effective from the 2027/2028 academic session.
The Council stated that these decisions were based on reports from its Facilities Verification and Accreditation Panel following inspections of the affected universities.
