In a significant development that is set to impact aspiring law students across the country, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the suspension of admissions for the Law programme in eight Nigerian universities for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This decision follows a directive from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to suspend the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme at these institutions for the upcoming 2025/2026 academic session.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communications Advisor of JAMB, made the announcement on Wednesday in Abuja, citing the suspension as a consequence of the CLE’s decision. According to the statement, the affected universities include Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin (Kwara State); Bingham University, Karu (Nasarawa State); Redeemers University, Ede (Osun State); Western Delta University, Oghara (Delta State); Taraba State University, Jalingo (Taraba State); Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo (Cross River State); Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (Ebonyi State); and the Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil (Kano State).
The suspension of the Law programme means that candidates who were hoping to pursue their legal education at these universities will not be able to do so in the 2025/2026 academic session. JAMB has made it clear that it will not approve any admissions for the Law programme at these institutions during this period, affecting a substantial number of prospective law students.
The statement also highlighted that the suspension at the Nigerian Police Academy in Wudil will extend for two academic sessions, affecting both the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 sessions. As such, no registrations or admissions for the Law programme will be allowed at the academy during these periods.
The suspension of these Law programmes is expected to raise concerns among students and institutions alike, as it may limit the opportunities available for those seeking legal education at the affected universities. With limited spaces in the remaining accredited law schools and universities, prospective law students may face increased competition for available spots.
This development comes as part of ongoing efforts to ensure that only accredited institutions are offering legal education in line with the standards set by the Council of Legal Education. It also serves as a reminder to both students and institutions of the importance of maintaining proper accreditation and adhering to the guidelines set by relevant educational authorities.
