The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has placed a 5-year moratorium on admission of students into the Faculty of Law at Baze University Abuja over consistently exceeding approved quotas since 2017.
In a statement on Thursday, the CLE disclosed that Baze University has admitted over 750 law students, more than 15 times its approved quota of 50 students per session. Currently, the university has a backlog of 347 law graduates awaiting admission to the Nigerian Law School.
The council also frowned at Baze University’s operation of a 3-year LL.B programme for some UTME candidates without approval from the National Universities Commission, JAMB and CLE. Law programmes run by Nigerian universities are mandated to be 5 years for UTME admission and 4 years for direct entry students under NUC’s Minimum Academic Standards.
Consequently, the CLE has imposed an initial 5-year moratorium on Baze University law faculty admissions beginning immediately. This may be renewed if no satisfactory actions are taken to remedy the violations.
The council however stated that it will explore ways to deal with the admission backlog in the interest of innocent students and parents during the moratorium period. Follow-up visits will also be conducted to assess the university’s remedial actions.
The statement signed by CLE’s Acting Secretary, Aderonke Osho warned all stakeholders including NUC, JAMB, prospective students and parents to take note of the status of the institution’s law faculty.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer