Atiba Varsity: We’ll Offer Transfers, Refunds To Affected Law Students hit by CLE Ban

Atiba University, Oyo, has pledged to support students affected by the 10-year moratorium imposed on its law programme by the Council of Legal Education, CLE.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Sunday Okeniyi, said affected students would be assisted with transfers to other institutions, tuition fee refunds or the release of their academic transcripts.

Okeniyi made the commitment on Wednesday during a meeting between the university management and students affected by the CLE’s decision, according to a video seen on X.

The CLE had on Tuesday imposed a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University’s law programme over what it described as deficiencies in facilities and breaches of regulations governing legal education.

The council’s Secretary and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho, said the decision followed resolutions reached at its third-quarter hybrid meeting held on August 13 at the Nigerian Law School headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.

According to Osho, the council found the university’s facilities to be “inappropriate and inadequate” for the establishment and operation of a faculty of law.

The CLE also accused the university of violating 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 read.

Osho said the moratorium was intended to compel compliance with prescribed standards and strengthen adherence to the regulatory framework governing legal education in Nigeria.

She added that the measure was aimed at protecting the “quality, integrity and standards” of legal education in the country.

Speaking to the affected students, Okeniyi said the university had already compiled their names and academic levels for submission 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.

The vice-chancellor said the university would also pursue an appeal with the CLE and work to ensure that the students’ academic progression was not disrupted by the moratorium.

“We will make sure that none of you have issues,” Okeniyi assured the students.

He said students who no longer wished to continue at Atiba University would be entitled to refunds of their tuition fees.

“Whoever wants a refund, we refund,” he said.

Okeniyi also promised to assist students who preferred to continue their studies at other universities by facilitating the release of their academic records.

“Whoever wants transcripts to go to another school, we will facilitate it,” he said.

The university’s assurances came after the CLE announced the 10-year moratorium, raising concerns over the academic future of students enrolled in Atiba University’s law programme.