The Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has once again been excluded from the latest list of universities authorised to offer law programmes in Nigeria, reigniting scrutiny of Governor Umo Eno's assertion that his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) facilitated the approval of the law faculty.
Council Releases Updated List
The Council for Legal Education (CLE) has published an updated roster of 117 universities approved to provide Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) programmes nationwide. The council cautioned prospective students against enrolling in unaccredited law faculties, warning that graduates from such institutions would not be admitted into the Nigerian Law School. Despite this, AKSU was notably absent from the list.
Second Omission Since Governor's Claim
This exclusion marks the second time AKSU has been omitted from the council's approved list since Governor Eno publicly linked the establishment of the law faculty to his political alignment with the APC. In November 2025, shortly after announcing his support for President Bola Tinubu and the APC, Mr Eno suggested that the state had begun reaping benefits from its new political relationship with the federal government. He cited the approval of a law faculty at AKSU as an example, stating during a public event: "The law faculty has been approved because we are no longer fighting."
Controversy Over Political Connection
The governor's statement sparked widespread debate and criticism, with opposition politicians accusing him of portraying federal approvals as political rewards. PREMIUM TIMES had previously reported that official records and comments from regulatory authorities did not support the governor's claim that approval for the law programme was linked to political connections.
Previous Exclusion in March
In March, the Council for Legal Education released a list of 114 universities approved to run law programmes, from which AKSU was also absent. That omission prompted fresh questions about the status of the proposed faculty. PREMIUM TIMES then reported that despite the governor's boast, the university had not secured the necessary approval from the council.
Council's Stance on Accreditation
In the updated notice, the council reiterated that only approved institutions are allowed to admit students into law programmes. It warned that attendance at unapproved faculties could jeopardise graduates' admission into the Nigerian Law School. The council stated it would continue to update the list in line with its statutory responsibility to regulate legal education in Nigeria.
Current Status in Akwa Ibom
The continued absence of AKSU from the council's approved list raises fresh questions about the status of the university's law programme. Currently, only two universities in Akwa Ibom—the University of Uyo and Topfaith University—have approval to run law programmes.
