News
Reps Wade Into NOUN Law Graduates ’ Law School Admission Crisis
…over 5,000 graduates petition National Assembly
…NOUN, Law School seek fresh hearing
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has stepped into the prolonged dispute over the admission of law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) into the Nigerian Law School for mandatory Bar training and examinations.
The intervention followed a petition by affected graduates under the aegis of the Backlog of Law Graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria, who asked the House to resolve what they described as a long-running stalemate that has prevented them from completing their professional legal training.
The petitioners put the number of affected graduates at more than 5,000, saying they had completed their LLB programmes but remained unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School and qualify for Call to Bar.
The issue came before the House Committee on Public Petitions on Wednesday, following a petition jointly signed by the group’s President, Dr Adeniyi O. Oladele; Vice-President, Mrs Nora John; Secretary, Mr Paschal Emeka Egerue; and Public Relations Officer, Chibueze Kenneth Obochi.
The committee had invited NOUN and the Council of Legal Education (CLE), the body responsible for the Nigerian Law School, to explain their positions on the dispute.
The latest hearing was, however, not conclusive, with the committee directing the parties to complete their outstanding submissions before the matter comes up again on September 30, 2026.
Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Obochi said the graduates were compelled to approach the National Assembly after exhausting other avenues of resolving the matter.
He argued that the affected graduates should not bear the consequences of disagreements between government institutions.
Obochi cited Section 18(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, in making the case for equal educational opportunities for Nigerian citizens.
He said, “Section 18, subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, makes it clear that the government shall give directive that equal education of all citizens of Nigeria shall be a core matter to the federal government, and that’s the reason they’ve set up schools and universities here and there.
“So this is our position, that we should not be made victims of inter-agency rivalries. We were not part of any agreements or disagreements between NOUN and CLE and Nigerian Law School. We are Nigerian citizens and we are innocent of whatever that must have transpired.”
The association also disputed the interpretation of an earlier list of 1,883 graduates submitted by NOUN during engagements with the relevant authorities in 2019.
Obochi argued that the use of the words “so far” in describing the number of graduates meant that the list was not necessarily a final record of everyone who would subsequently complete the programme.
He said, “Every lawyer, even a layman, understands the express statement when you say ‘so far’. That means it opens a window to some persons left behind.
“As of 2015, when the National Open University was advised to stop admission, we had already started the programme. And every reasonable person knows that when you stop admission, it does not mean that you have chased away those who are already studying.”
He said the affected graduates had documents, including matriculation numbers, showing when they were admitted into the university.
According to him, “So we are of the opinion that justice and fairness shall prevail over this matter. And what was done to our seniors should also be extended to us. So, as we stated earlier, we have done LLB and we are proud of the programme we did and the certification thereupon.”
NOUN gives account of dispute
NOUN did not appear physically before the committee on Wednesday, with the university instead submitting a letter explaining the absence of its Vice-Chancellor.
The letter, signed by the Registrar, Oladipo A. Ajayi, acknowledged receipt of the committee’s summons and explained that the Vice-Chancellor was away on an official assignment.
The university consequently requested another date to appear before the committee.
In its earlier submission, NOUN welcomed the House intervention and said it appreciated the committee’s efforts to find an equitable and lasting solution to the matter.
The university said an accreditation team from the National Universities Commission, led by Prof Nsongurua Udombana, visited the institution in 2015 as part of the accreditation process for its LLB programme.
It said that while it was awaiting the accreditation report, the CLE published its position rejecting admission of NOUN law graduates into the Nigerian Law School.
NOUN said it subsequently suspended fresh admission into the LLB programme in 2015 and had not admitted new students since then.
According to the university, the decision was intended to prevent the number of affected students from increasing while the regulatory issues remained unresolved.
The institution said that between 2015 and 2019, its management engaged the CLE and other stakeholders in an attempt to resolve the eligibility of its law graduates for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
In 2019, it formally appealed to the CLE for the admission of its law graduates and submitted a list of 1,883 graduates.
NOUN later discovered that 90 graduates had inadvertently been left out, bringing the actual number at the time to 1,973.
The university further stated that the Body of Benchers considered the matter in 2020 and approved a Special Remedial Programme for NOUN law graduates instead of direct admission into Bar Part II, which applies to graduates of other Nigerian universities.
It added that on May 13, 2022, it submitted another batch of 2,226 law graduates who had completed their studies between 2019 and May 2022 for consideration for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
According to NOUN, the CLE rejected the subsequent submission on grounds including an alleged understanding that the 2019 submission represented the total number of NOUN law graduates and an allegation that the university had continued admitting students into the LLB programme after 2015.
NOUN rejected the allegation, insisting that admission into the programme was suspended in 2015 and never resumed.
The university explained that those included in the subsequent submission were students who had been admitted before the suspension but completed their studies after 2015.
Law School seeks fresh date
The Nigerian Law School also did not appear before the committee.
Its Director-General, Dr Olugbemisola Odusote, sent a letter explaining that she could not attend because of an official assignment requiring the participation of relevant officials on the scheduled date.
The institution expressed regret over its absence and requested that the committee communicate another date for the hearing.
It also submitted a response to the petition and assured the House of its willingness to cooperate with the committee.
The dispute has persisted for several years, with thousands of NOUN law graduates repeatedly seeking access to the professional training required for qualification as legal practitioners. Recent reports have put the number of affected graduates at more than 4,000, although the petition before the House puts the figure at over 5,000.
The Council of Legal Education has previously maintained that admission into the Nigerian Law School is subject to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, while earlier batches of NOUN graduates were admitted through a special remedial arrangement.
The House committee is now expected to consider the submissions of the parties as it continues its investigation.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Rep. Akin Rotimi, who laid the petition before the House on July 21, 2026, expressed commitment to ensuring that the concerns of the affected graduates receive attention.
Rotimi stressed the need for a fair and lasting resolution, saying graduates who had completed their academic programmes should not be left in prolonged uncertainty over their professional training.
He assured the affected graduates of his support for efforts to resolve the issues surrounding their admission and ensure that the matter receives the necessary attention from the relevant authorities.
MINNA, Niger State — An engine oil seller in Minna, the Niger State capital, has reportedly sustained serious injuries after allegedly being shot during a police operation to disperse protesters.
The victim, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Dada, was reportedly standing outside his shop at Tunga Market when he was struck by a bullet.
Ibrahim’s brother, Yakubu Dada Mohammed, said the victim was not part of the protest and was attending to customers at his engine oil stall when the incident occurred.
According to him, Ibrahim was simply trying to earn a living and support his family when a police officer allegedly fired a shot that hit him in the head and severely injured his face.
«“He was not among those protesting. He was standing in front of his shop selling engine oil when one of the police officers fired a bullet that struck his head and badly injured his face,” Yakubu said.»
Ibrahim is currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital, where his condition was reportedly described as critical.
The incident occurred amid protests in Minna over the reported deaths of 37 miners who were allegedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reports indicate that 65 miners were arrested on September 15 and 16, with 37 subsequently reported dead while in security custody.
The protests, which began on Thursday, continued into Friday as security personnel moved to disperse demonstrators. Security forces were reportedly accused of using tear gas and live ammunition during the operation.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ibrahim’s shooting have not been independently established.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, appealed for calm and said the incident would be investigated.
The case has since heightened concerns over the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing protests.
By Agaji Emmanuel
Nigeria’s political landscape is once again being reshaped by alliances that do not always fit neatly into traditional party lines. As the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the growing political relevance of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, presents an interesting case of how personal political networks and cross-party relationships can influence the calculations of an incumbent administration.
In this regard, Wike’s relevance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu goes beyond his position as FCT Minister or his former status as a governor of Rivers State. His greatest political value may lie in his ability to operate across party boundaries and maintain relationships with political actors who do not necessarily belong to the same political party.
The emergence of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State is one example. The coalition has brought together politicians from different parties, including the PDP and APC, around support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid. Wike has consistently maintained that his support for Tinubu does not mean the PDP cannot field candidates in other elections.
That position makes the political arrangement particularly unusual.
Wike Beyond the APC-PDP Divide
Wike remains a PDP politician even while serving in an APC-led federal administration. President Tinubu appointed him FCT Minister after the 2023 presidential election, creating an uncommon relationship between a former opposition heavyweight and a president whose party was on the other side of the political divide.
Rather than viewing politics solely through the traditional APC-versus-PDP prism, Wike has increasingly presented his political engagement around what he considers strategic interests.
He has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, while maintaining that the PDP remains free to contest governorship and legislative elections in 2027.
That distinction is important because it suggests that Wike’s political calculation is not necessarily about abandoning his party but about creating room for political alliances that transcend conventional party boundaries.
And that, in this writer’s assessment, is where his value to Tinubu becomes significant.
An Administrative Asset in Abuja
Beyond politics, Wike’s performance as FCT Minister has also strengthened his relevance within the Tinubu administration.
Since assuming office in 2023, Wike has overseen several road and infrastructure projects across Abuja and the satellite towns. President Tinubu has repeatedly publicly commended the minister, including in June 2026, when he praised Wike for the pace of infrastructure development in the capital.
The President has also specifically credited Wike with helping to turn government plans into completed road and infrastructure projects across the FCT.
Whether one agrees with every policy of the Tinubu administration or not, the visible infrastructure drive in Abuja has become one of the most prominent aspects of Wike’s ministerial profile.
Roads, satellite-town infrastructure, public facilities and other development projects have given the minister a strong administrative presence.
Wike himself has consistently attributed the progress in the FCT to President Tinubu’s support and the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
His Political Capital May Be More Important
But Wike’s political significance cannot be measured only by roads, buildings and infrastructure.
His experience in opposition politics, his former position as Rivers governor, his extensive political network and his relationships across party lines give him a political reach that may be useful to the Tinubu administration as 2027 approaches.
The question, therefore, is not simply what Wike delivers as a minister.
It is what his political network can potentially add to the administration’s broader coalition-building efforts.
The Rivers Rainbow Coalition is particularly significant in this regard. Wike has described it as the platform to further catapult President Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
News
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the Labour Party’s 2027 Delta State governorship candidate, has released a new campaign jingle designed to communicate his leadership vision and development agenda to the people of Delta State.
The release comes as political activities surrounding the 2027 governorship contest continue to intensify and amid attention to pending judicial developments concerning political and electoral matters.
The campaign jingle presents Dr. Avotu Johnson’s candidacy around a central message of quality leadership, accountable governance, economic opportunity and a new direction for Delta State.
Dr. Avotu Johnson was reported as the Labour Party’s Delta governorship candidate following the party’s 2026 governorship primaries.
“GOOD. BETTER. BEST.”
At the heart of the campaign is the GOOD. BETTER. BEST. vision, which Dr. Avotu Johnson has consistently presented as a framework for moving Delta State from existing achievements toward higher standards of governance and public service.
The campaign’s published priorities include economic development, job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment, technology, security and transparent governance.
The new jingle seeks to transform those policy messages into a memorable public campaign theme capable of reaching communities across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
A MESSAGE OF LEADERSHIP
Supporters of the Labour Party candidate describe the campaign as an attempt to place leadership quality and measurable governance at the centre of the 2027 Delta conversation.
Rather than focusing exclusively on political personalities, the campaign message emphasizes what it describes as competence, accountability, development and service to the people.
Dr. Avotu Johnson has also publicly linked his political programme to his long-standing advocacy for democratic participation and accountable government.
His campaign slogan, “A Good Delta. A Better Delta. The Best Delta,” has become one of the principal messages associated with his 2027 governorship project.
THE CONTEST AHEAD
The 2027 Delta governorship contest is expected to involve candidates from several political parties. A recent candidate tracker lists Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson for the Labour Party alongside candidates associated with APC, ADC, YP and ZLP, among others.
Against that political background, the Labour Party campaign says the new jingle is intended to introduce its candidate and his programme to a wider audience while encouraging voters to examine the competing candidates, their records, ideas and proposed programmes.
LOOKING TOWARD THE SUPREME COURT
The campaign’s reference to the Supreme Court reflects the wider legal and political environment surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process. However, the outcome of any pending judicial proceeding remains a matter for the Court and should not be presented as predetermined.
For the Avotu Johnson campaign, the immediate political message is clear: the Labour Party candidate intends to continue presenting himself to Deltans as a candidate focused on quality leadership and development-driven governance.
As the 2027 election approaches, the campaign jingle is expected to become an important part of the candidate’s communication strategy across radio, television, social media, community engagements and grassroots mobilisation.
For supporters of Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the message behind the music is simple:
GOOD LEADERSHIP.
BETTER GOVERNANCE.
BEST DELTA.
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st
Labour Party — 2027 Delta State Governorship Candidate
GOOD. BETTER. BEST.
A NEW DELTA STATE IS POSSIBLE.
Police Allegedly Shoot Engine Oil Seller During Minna Protest
Beyond Party Lines: Why Wike Has Become a Political Asset to Tinubu
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
-
Metro15 hours agoEdo Council Chairman Threatens To Demolish Hotel For Hosting NDC Meeting, Leaked Audio Alleges
-
Metro15 hours agoMother, Four Children Die in Rivers Fire Tragedy
-
News15 hours agoIBB Condemns Deaths of 37 Miners in NSCDC Custody, Urges Calm
-
News15 hours agoTinubu Won’t Attend 81st UN General Assembly In New York –Presidency Source
-
News15 hours agoSoludo pardons jailed native doctor, appoints him youth ambassador
-
News15 hours agoFG To Introduce National Call Centre For Electricity Complaints