Dalena Reporters l December 29, 2025
A University of Ibadan (UI) law graduate, Mr. Kayode Bello, has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Ibadan seeking readmission into the Nigerian Law School and ₦100 million in damages over what he described as an unlawful denial of his right to complete his professional legal training after being expelled in 2017. The suit, filed under FHC/IB/CS/93/2025, names the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa; the Council of Legal Education; the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School; the University of Ibadan; senior UI officials; and student union leaders as respondents in the matter.
Bello’s complaint centres on the prolonged refusal by authorities to readmit him into the Law School long after his expulsion penalty — imposed in 2017 — had ostensibly expired, arguing that the denial has unjustly frustrated his professional aspirations and caused psychological trauma, hardship and loss of time. He is asking the court to compel the respondents to formally address his repeated requests for intervention dating back to August 17, 2022, and to take specific steps to facilitate his readmission.
Among the reliefs sought, Bello wants the court to order the Council of Legal Education and the Director-General to provide a formal response on his status following the lapse of the expulsion and to compel the University of Ibadan Students’ Union and its President to disclose any efforts made on his behalf concerning the readmission issue. He also seeks a declaration that two UI law faculty members denied him a fair hearing in an associated matter regarding academic evidence from a study programme abroad.
In addition to the readmission plea, Bello is seeking general damages amounting to ₦100 million jointly against all respondents for the personal and professional setbacks he claims to have endured due to the prolonged impasse. He also recalled that a Federal High Court earlier ordered his Master’s student portal reopened at UI, but alleged that university authorities failed to comply, prompting him to file a notice of consequences for disobedience of court orders.
The case reflects a broader grievance among some law graduates over delays and barriers to admission into the Nigerian Law School, a critical step toward legal practice in Nigeria, amid ongoing discussions about educational regulation and professional accreditation.