The Council of Legal Education yesterday said the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, had not been accredited to run Law degree programme. The Chairman of the Council, Mr. Onueze Okocha, who disclosed this in Abuja, said anyone studying Law at NOUN and hoping to secure admission to the Nigerian Law School was merely wasting his time and resources.

Speaking at a briefing to kick-start the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Law School, Okocha said NOUN did not have the necessary prerequisites such as moot court, lecturers among others to run a degree in Law. Okocha advised those already studying Law at NOUN to transfer to accredited universities. He said: “It is foolhardy for someone to establish a university, put in his money and then choose to run an illegal Faculty of Law.” The chairman said the Council of Legal Education operated under the law and therefore would continue to implement the law.

Okocha also dismissed claims that the Council might eventually accredit the Law programme being run by non-accredited universities. He said: “I don’t want them to waste their monies and time. They should seek transfer to accredited universities.”

Also speaking, the Director- General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman, said anyone who only wanted to have an acquaintance with the law, could go to a non-accredited university to sturdy Law. He said: “But if they want to become legal practitioners, they have to go to accredited universities.” Mamman said the list of universities accredited to run law programme had been published and anyone interested should endeavour to look for it before putting in for Law in any of the universities. Speaking on the proposed amendment of the law establishing the Council of Legal Education, Okocha said it would allow the Law School to be best administered.

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