NBA, Senators reject proposed 6 law school campuses

The move to create additional 6 law Schools in addition to the existing seven, has suffered a setback during a one-day public hearing in Abuja.

This followed contributions by the Council of Legal Education, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) and some Senators at the fora.

One of the bills seeking to amend the Legal Education Consolidation Act of 2004 was sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West.

The Public Hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary Senator Opeyemi Bamidele called for inputs from critical stakeholders on the legislative proposal entitled : ” Legal Education ( Consolidated etc , Amendment ) Bill 2021″, but received unfavorable submissions from most of them .

Senators Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu West called on his colleagues to be cautious on the proposal, adding that it may politicize legal education in the country.

He advised that establishment of new campuses of law schools should be left at the discretion of Council for Legal Education as empowered by the Act 1962.

Also, the National President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata (SAN), said the move was unnecessary as the existing six campuses are underfunded. Mr Akpata commended the Rivers State Government for building a state of the art Campus in Port Harcourt.