₦airaland Forum

Over 4,000 NOUN Law Graduates Petition Attorney General Over Exclusion From Nigerian Law School Admissions

More than 4,000 law graduates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) have petitioned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, seeking urgent intervention over their exclusion from the 2025/2026 Nigerian Law School Bar Part II vocational training admission exercise.

In the petition signed by the group’s president, Mr. Adefowora Adedeji, and secretary-general, Mr. Samuel Udofia, the graduates decried what they described as “discrimination” against over 4,150 qualified NOUN law graduates, who have been denied the right to apply for the programme, despite being recognised under the National Open University of Nigeria (Amendment) Act, 2018.

The petitioners recalled that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the amendment into law, paving the way for NOUN graduates to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School for the first time.

They argued that the current exclusion violates Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom from discrimination and equal rights for all citizens.

According to the graduates, many of them have been waiting for more than five years to proceed to Bar Part II, with some already advanced in age, while others have died without fulfilling their aspirations.

They emphasised that denying them admission, while graduates of other Nigerian universities are accommodated, amounts to “a national crisis.”

The petitioners proposed that at least 600 NOUN law graduates be distributed across the seven campuses of the Nigerian Law School as a practical solution to the backlog.

They noted that earlier sets of NOUN graduates admitted into the Law School had performed commendably, proving their competence and capacity for professional legal training.

The graduates urged the Attorney General to impress upon the Council for Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School the urgent need to resolve the matter in the interest of fairness, justice, and national development.

The statement read, "We, the undersigned, wish to express our profound gratitude for the support we received from the presidency, under president Muhammadu Buhari, who signed National Open University of Nigeria (Amendment) Act, 2018 (Act No.6 of 2018), into law which resulted in the admission of the first set of law graduates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) into the Nigerian Law School.

"We bring to your kind attention, Your Excellency, our rights to equal legal education have been jeopardised in the just-released Nigeria Law School 2025/2026 bar part II vocational training admission exercise, which excluded the Noun law graduates from applying for the professional program of being trained in the law school as barristers and solicitors of Nigeria this year.

“This has become a national crisis. Law graduates from other Nigerian universities are given the right of admission to the Nigerian Law School, while excluding us. This is against the constitutional principles of equality, fairness, and justice.

“We have equal rights to legal education like other Nigerian university law graduates. It is against our right enshrined in section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). This is a pure state of discrimination!

"However, it is pertinent to inform you, sir, that we are over 4,150 NOUN law graduates currently still awaiting admission into Bar Part II , Nigeria Law School. Many among us have waited an average of more than five years, while many have sadly passed away, and the majority of us are now advanced in age.”

"In light of this situation, we earnestly seek your intervention to impress upon the Council for Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School the urgent need to address our matter. Specifically, we are requesting an immediate admission action plan that will accommodate these over 4,000 graduates into Bar Part II within the shortest possible time," the statement said.

They noted that their “request for direct admission into Bar Part II is firmly grounded in the relevant laws and the following reasons: The Act establishing the National Open University of Nigeria (2018 as amended) has removed any existing lacuna regarding our eligibility.

"Provisions under the Legal Education (Consolidated, etc.) Act (Cap. L10, Laws of the Federation, 2004), which established the Council for Legal Education, stipulates that law graduates (LLB) from Nigerian universities are eligible for such admission.”

"Denying us the same opportunity granted to our seniors will amount to discrimination and an infringement on our fundamental rights under Section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the statement said.

"Lastly, the commendable performance of the first NOUN law graduates admitted into the Nigerian Law School—who have distinguished themselves academically and in character—stands as clear evidence of our readiness and capacity,” it added.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/09/14/over-4000-noun-law-graduates-petition-attorney-general-over-exclusion-nigerian-law#:~:text=More%20than%204%2C000%20law%20graduates,Bar%20Part%20II%20vocational%20training

But this is unacceptable, graduates from government owned school should not be facing this kind of problem and discrimination

Nigeria is just a big animal farm sha.

The same federal government established National Open University, the same federal government is shooting itself on the leg. If they don't resolve this, they will discourage more Nigerians from going for National Open University's law program because it's as good as nothing if they cannot enroll for law school after their program.


It's only in Nigeria that they discriminate over issues like this ; very heartless set of people always looking for ways to frustrate their citizens and make them fail in life, tufiakwa

Chaiiii upcoming deji adeyanju dey para. But why the discrimination.

Very good. How can 2 federal bodies fail to agree on allowing graduates gain admission into law school... The law students are just doing the right thing.

If at all the Council for Legal Education has reservations, they can subject NOUN law graduates to entrance exams to make sure they're up to par with regular graduates, end of story.

Open University in the UK is producing lawyers every year, Law isn't rocket science. They need to do the right thing and stop discriminating against a federal institution.

Noun is well recognised university.

Seun should add the remaining characters

God1000:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/09/14/over-4000-noun-law-graduates-petition-attorney-general-over-exclusion-nigerian-law#:~:text=More%20than%204%2C000%20law%20graduates,Bar%20Part%20II%20vocational%20training

I heard the school is not accredited for Law. Please who can verify?

franchasng:
Nigeria is just a big animal farm sha.

The same federal government established National Open University, the same federal government is shooting itself on the leg. If they don't resolve this, they will discourage more Nigerians from going for National Open University's law program because it's as good as nothing if they cannot enroll for law school after their program.



It's only in Nigeria that they discriminate over issues like this ; very heartless set of people always looking for ways to frustrate their citizens and make them fail in life, tufiakwa

But I heard they no long offer Law admission (LL.B) anymore. How true is this?

This is absurd,why giving them the admission in the first place when them no go fit proceed to bar 2.
Which kind country be this abeg?

You can imagine the kinds of people saddled with responsibility of doing the right thing are now the ones spoiling and disgracing the system. The council of legal education is full of mediocre with ancient knowledge of 100th years ago and believe things most remain the same. What a country, other are upgrading their educational system the giant of Africa is busy taking us back.

God1000:
But this is unacceptable, graduates from government owned school should not be facing this kind of problem and discrimination

While I pity their Plight in success ladder 🪜 but - was there No Rules on this matter?
For I have a Friend - who was once in this Open University but Switched To Daily Lectures Of Another University and he told me then that:
• Law Governing Bodies - Has Issues a Letter saying •----- That -Part-Time -Law Has Been Cancelled in Nigeria because LAW Should Be Full Time,since!
-So why Should NOUN BE INVOLVED IN THIS ILLEGALITY - BY COLLECTING MONEY 🤑 FROM THESE THOUSANDS OF THE LAW APPLICANTS?
-BUT WHY DO GOVT-CONTINUES TO BE SILENT 😶 SINCE ON THIS MATTER!
Just TRUTH AND FACTS!

If the NUC and Council of Legal Education accredits them then there’s no reason to stop them from attending law school after graduation

COMRADES, honestly, I don't support the prejudice NOUN graduands usually experience, if they are qualified/ eligible for the programme, I have not seen any reason why they should not be admitted to do their programme at the law school

I guess the Best way to prove they are qualified lawyers is to sue the highest ranking law personnel in the land

cyberbro:
Very good. How can 2 federal bodies fail to agree on allowing graduates gain admission into law school... The law students are just doing the right thing.

If at all the Council for Legal Education has reservations, they can subject NOUN law graduates to entrance exams to make sure they're up to par with regular graduates, end of story.

Open University in the UK is producing lawyers every year, Law isn't rocket science. They need to do the right thing and stop discriminating against a federal institution.

Yea, it's the same challenges that occurred when universities refused to admit students with NECO certificates.

Always follow the right path to get whatever you want in life.

NOUN is not a proper school for many professional courses.

You can't use "shortcut" to get what others got through the proper channel.

kinguwem:
Yea, it's the same challenges that occurred when universities refused to admit students with NECO certificates.

Which university is that one? don't say what you are not sure of.

If they are not ready to treat the graduates of this university like those from other conventional universities, they should scrap it. NOUN is a beautiful innovation and its graduates should be given all the support they deserve.

lonelydora:
Always follow the right path to get whatever you want in life.

NOUN is not a proper school for many professional courses.

You can't use "shortcut" to get what others got through the proper channel.

Please can you enlighten us about the shortcut in this case?

NOUN graduates should be accorded due respect and privileges as other graduates from federal government recognized universities.
The government should not allow Nigerians to spend their time and money on acquisition of knowledge from NOUN only to turn them back at the point of glory.

God1000:
https://saharareporters.com/2025/09/14/over-4000-noun-law-graduates-petition-attorney-general-over-exclusion-nigerian-law#:~:text=More%20than%204%2C000%20law%20graduates,Bar%20Part%20II%20vocational%20training

Same way University of Ibadan Distance learning does not give Social work graduate exemption letter.

The biggest scam by University of Ibadan is Social work dept under distance learning. Yet they kept selling their form for social work without exemption letter

God1000:
But this is unacceptable, graduates from government owned school should not be facing this kind of problem and discrimination

It's crazy the way this country works just imagine, NOUN have been facing things like this a government owned school...

What of those studying Economics,are they recognized

lonelydora:
Always follow the right path to get whatever you want in life.

NOUN is not a proper school for many professional courses.

You can't use "shortcut" to get what others got through the proper channel.

Go to federal, state and private universities and see glorified secondary school, that you called proper channel, is not the same proper channels in which the graduates of such proper channels won't able to speak simple English?

How many of such graduates can effectively defend the certificate he went to university to study for 4 years?

franchasng:
Nigeria is just a big animal farm sha.

The same federal government established National Open University, the same federal government is shooting itself on the leg. If they don't resolve this, they will discourage more Nigerians from going for National Open University's law program because it's as good as nothing if they cannot enroll for law school after their program.


It's only in Nigeria that they discriminate over issues like this ; very heartless set of people always looking for ways to frustrate their citizens and make them fail in life, tufiakwa

Noun is better than some private universities which government allow them to go to law school

thomas2024:
But I heard they no long offer Law admission (LL.B) anymore. How true is this?

Very true, they suspended admissions into their LL.B course about 3 or 4yrs ago.

cyberbro:
Very good. How can 2 federal bodies fail to agree on allowing graduates gain admission into law school... The law students are just doing the right thing.

If at all the Council for Legal Education has reservations, they can subject NOUN law graduates to entrance exams to make sure they're up to par with regular graduates, end of story.

Open University in the UK is producing lawyers every year, Law isn't rocket science. They need to do the right thing and stop discriminating against a federal institution.

They don't even need to subject graduates to another exam. That will amount to prejudice, discrimination ,and will be a reference point to the quality of graduates of the school.

What needs to be done is to either scrap the programme or make a periodic review to ensure standard is met.

These things are easy. If the programme must become slightly more rigorous, then so be it. It's a total waste of precious time to study law and not be able to practice.

THIS IS A QUESTION OF A PERSON KILLING BOTH PARENTS AND PLEADING MERCY AS AN ORPHAN.
The present DG of Nigerian law school asked the VC in 2020 to give him the list of all NOUN gratuates ana he gave hin over a thousand names.All these were taken by Nogerian law school and they underwent a special remedial programme and many of them are either now called or ready to be called to bar.
An agreement was signed between council of legal education and NOUN that they should stop training LLb graduates.
NOUN went behind and produced these extra graduates now making trouble.
I am dissappointed in this ugly situation created by NOUN.