Atiba University, Oyo, has assured students enrolled in its law programme that it will take steps to protect their academic interests following a 10-year moratorium imposed on the programme by the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Okeniyi, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a meeting with students affected by the regulatory decision.
Okeniyi said the institution had compiled the names and academic levels of the affected students and would submit the details to the CLE.
“The list of students and levels they have has already been compiled and will be submitted to the Council of Legal Education,” he said.
He also disclosed that the university would appeal the CLE’s decision while exploring measures to ensure the moratorium does not disrupt the students’ academic progression.
“We will make sure that none of you have issues,” the vice-chancellor assured the students.
Okeniyi further said students who no longer wished to remain at Atiba University could obtain refunds of their tuition fees.
“Whoever wants a refund, we refund,” he said.
He added that students who preferred to continue their legal education at other institutions would be assisted through the release of their academic transcripts.
“Whoever wants transcripts to go to another school, we will facilitate it,” Okeniyi said.
The assurances followed the CLE’s announcement on Tuesday of a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University’s law programme.
The council said the decision was based on deficiencies identified in the university’s facilities and alleged breaches of regulations governing legal education.
In a statement, the CLE’s Secretary and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho, said the decision followed resolutions reached at the council’s third-quarter hybrid meeting held on August 13 at the Nigerian Law School headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.
According to Osho, the council found the facilities available at Atiba University to be “inappropriate and inadequate” for establishing and operating a faculty of law.
The CLE also alleged that the university breached its admission policy by admitting and graduating law students without obtaining the required approval.
“The council also approved a ten-year moratorium in respect of Atiba University, Oyo state, following its finding that the institution’s facilities were inappropriate and inadequate for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law,” the statement said.
Osho explained that the moratorium was intended to compel the university to comply with prescribed standards and strengthen adherence to the regulatory framework for legal education in Nigeria.
She said the measure was also designed to protect the “quality, integrity and standards” of legal education in the country.
The CLE’s action had raised concerns over the academic future of students currently enrolled in Atiba University’s law programme.
However, the university’s management has now pledged to pursue available avenues with the regulatory body while providing affected students with options including transfers, tuition refunds and access to their academic records.
