Abuja, Nigeria – 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 Fagbemi, SAN, over their exclusion from admission into the Nigerian Law School.
The petition, submitted through the NOUN Law Graduates Forum, seeks urgent government intervention to end what the group describes as discriminatory practices that have denied them the opportunity to complete their legal education and qualify as practicing lawyers in Nigeria.
The dispute arises from a longstanding face-off between NOUN and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), which regulates legal education in the country. Since launching its LL.B program in 2002, NOUN has produced thousands of graduates, but the CLE has consistently refused them admission into the Law School.
The council argues that NOUN’s distance-learning model lacks the in-person training, courtroom simulations, and hands-on legal practice required for professional competence. NOUN, however, insists its law program meets international standards, citing virtual learning platforms, moot courts, and practical sessions built into its curriculum.
In their petition, the graduates lamented the emotional, financial, and professional toll of the continued exclusion, describing it as a violation of their right to education and equal opportunity.
“We have invested years of hard work, significant financial resources, and immense dedication to earn our law degrees from NOUN, only to be told our qualifications are not recognized for admission into the Nigerian Law School,” the petition read. “This exclusion is unfair and undermines the federal government’s drive to expand access to education through open and distance learning.”
Many of the affected graduates say they have been left in limbo, unable to pursue legal practice. Some have been forced to abandon their law careers, while others remain unemployed despite years of lobbying.
A graduate, Aisha Bello (name changed), who finished with a first-class degree in 2018, expressed frustration:
“I am still unable to practice law because I can’t attend the Law School. This situation has caused me and many others deep distress. We feel abandoned by the system.”
The graduates are urging the Attorney General to mediate with the CLE and facilitate their admission into the Nigerian Law School. They are also calling for a policy review to guarantee inclusivity for all law graduates, regardless of whether they studied through traditional or open and distance learning institutions.
