If you are looking for CLE accredited universities in Nigeria to study Law in the coming academic session, checking whether a university has approval from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) should be one of your first steps.
The Council of Legal Education has published an updated list of 122 universities approved to admit students into Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programmes in Nigeria. The latest public notice is dated August 14, 2026, and it replaces the earlier 117-university list released in June 2026.
This guide contains the full list of CLE accredited universities in Nigeria, explains what CLE approval means, highlights universities with admission moratoriums, and answers common questions about studying Law in Nigeria.
What Does CLE Approval Mean?
The Council of Legal Education is responsible for regulating legal education and professional legal training in Nigeria. For prospective Law students, CLE approval is particularly important because the Council determines which universities are authorised to admit students into the LL.B programme.
The latest notice states that only universities accredited by the Council of Legal Education are authorised to admit students into the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme in Nigeria. It also warns that students admitted into Law programmes at universities without CLE approval will not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
This means that checking the list of accredited law universities in Nigeria is not simply another admission formality. It can affect your eligibility for the next stage of legal education.
CLE Approval Is Different From NUC Accreditation
One important point prospective students should understand is that NUC accreditation and CLE approval are not the same thing.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) regulates universities and their academic programmes generally. However, Law has an additional professional regulatory requirement through the Council of Legal Education.
Therefore, a university being recognised by the NUC does not automatically mean that its Law programme has CLE approval for admission.
If you want to study Law, check both the university’s general regulatory status and its specific status with the Council of Legal Education.
Full List of CLE Accredited Universities in Nigeria 2026/2027
The August 2026 CLE notice contains 122 universities approved to admit students into LL.B programmes. The list includes federal, state and private universities across Nigeria.
Below is the complete list of universities approved to study Law in Nigeria 2026 according to the latest published CLE list:
- Abia State University, Uturu
- Achievers University, Owo
- Adamawa State University, Mubi
- Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
- Adeleke University, Ede
- Admiralty University, Ibusa
- Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
- Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo
- Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden
- Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri
- Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin
- Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike
- Amadeus University, Amazi
- American University of Nigeria, Yola
- Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
- Anchor University, Ayobo
- Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo
- Ave-Maria University, Piyanko
- Azman University, Kano
- Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo
- Bauchi State University, Gadau
- Bayero University, Kano
- Baze University, Abuja
- Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
- Bingham University, Karu
- Bowen University, Iwo
- Caleb University, Imota
- Chrisland University, Abeokuta
- Christopher University, Mowe
- Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam
- Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara
- Crescent University, Abeokuta
- Delta State University, Abraka
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki
- Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo
- Edo University, Iyamho
- Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
- El-Amin University, Minna
- Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin
- Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Agbani
- European University of Nigeria, Abuja
- Federal University, Dutsin-Ma
- Federal University, Lokoja
- Federal University, Otuoke
- Federal University, Wukari
- Fountain University, Osogbo
- Godfrey Okoye University
- Gombe State University
- Gregory University, Uturu
- Hensard University, Toru-Orua
- Ibrahim Babangida University, Lapai
- Igbinedion University, Okada
- Imo State University, Owerri
- Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
- Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Ogboko
- KolaDaisi University, Ibadan
- Kwara State University, Malete
- Lagos State University, Ojo
- Lead City University, Ibadan
- Lux Mundi University, Umuahia
- Madonna University, Okija
- Maduka University, Ekwegbe-Nsukka
- Margaret Lawrence University, Umunede
- Maryam Abacha American University, Kano
- McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo
- Mewar International University, Masaka
- Modibbo Adama University, Yola
- Nasarawa State University, Keffi
- Newgate University, Minna
- Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island
- Nigerian-British University, Asa
- Nile University, Abuja
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
- North-Eastern University, Gombe
- Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano
- Northwest University, Kalambaina, Sokoto
- Novena University, Ogume
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
- Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu
- Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye
- Osun State University, Osogbo
- Peaceland University, Enugu
- Peter University, Achina-Onneh
- Philomath University, Abuja
- Plateau State University, Bokkos
- Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
- Prime University, Kuje
- Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba
- Rayhaan University, Birnin-Kebbi
- Redeemer’s University, Ede
- Renaissance University, Ugbawka
- Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi
- Rivers State University, Port Harcourt
- Salem University, Lokoja
- Sam Maris University, Supare-Akoko
- Shanahan University, Onitsha
- Skyline University, Kano
- Taraba State University, Jalingo
- Thomas Adewunmi University, Oko-Irese
- Topfaith University, Mkpatak
- Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina
- University of Abuja
- University of Benin, Benin City
- University of Calabar, Calabar
- University of Delta, Agbor
- University of Ibadan, Ibadan
- University of Ilesa, Ilesa
- University of Ilorin, Ilorin
- University of Jos, Jos
- University of Lagos, Akoka
- University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka
- University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt
- University of Uyo, Uyo
- University on the Niger, Umunya
- Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
- Veritas University, Bwari
- Wesley University, Ondo
- Western Delta University, Oghara
- Yobe State University, Damaturu
The August update also brought Akwa Ibom State University onto the CLE list. It had not appeared on the Council’s June 2026 list of 117 approved universities.
Universities With CLE Admission Moratoriums
There is an important distinction you should understand when reviewing the accredited universities to study Law in Nigeria.
Being named on the CLE’s approved list does not necessarily mean that a university can admit new Law students for every academic session. The August notice identifies three universities with specified admission moratorium periods:
| University | Moratorium stated by CLE |
|---|---|
| Baze University, Abuja | 2023/2024 – 2025/2026 |
| Lead City University, Ibadan | 2023/2024 – 2027/2028 |
| Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil | 2024/2025 – 2025/2026 |
The Council’s published notice identifies these three institutions and their respective moratorium periods.
What Does This Mean for 2026/2027 Applicants?
This is where applicants need to be careful.
The stated moratorium for Lead City University extends through the 2027/2028 academic session. Therefore, prospective students should know that Lead City is currently not accepting fresh Law admissions till 2027/28.
The stated moratorium periods for Baze University and the Nigeria Police Academy ended with the 2025/2026 academic session. However, because CLE status can be updated, applicants should confirm their current 2026/2027 admission status with the Council or the institution before paying fees or accepting a Law offer from these schools.
In other words, the list of CLE accredited universities in Nigeria should be used alongside the specific admission status for the academic session you intend to enter.
A moratorium should not be interpreted as the permanent cancellation of a university’s Law programme. It is a restriction on fresh admissions for the period specified by the Council.
Why You Should Check CLE Approval Before Applying for Law
Choosing a university simply because it advertises Law can be risky.
The CLE has warned that universities without its approval are not authorised to admit students into the LL.B programme. It has also stated that students admitted into unapproved Law programmes will not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
For this reason, candidates searching for accredited law universities in Nigeria should verify the university’s current CLE status before completing their admission process.
Do not rely only on:
- A university’s website
- An admission advertisement
- A JAMB course listing
- Social media announcements
- Information from agents or admission consultants
Instead, confirm that the Law programme appears on the latest CLE-approved list and check whether the institution has any admission restriction for the relevant academic session.
Does CLE Approval Guarantee Admission to Nigerian Law School?
No.
CLE approval of an undergraduate Law programme does not mean that every graduate is automatically admitted into the Nigerian Law School.
It means that the university is authorised by the Council to admit students into the LL.B programme, subject to the conditions and restrictions applicable to that institution.
After completing an approved LL.B programme, graduates must still satisfy the requirements for admission to the Nigerian Law School and complete the required professional legal training before proceeding toward call to the Nigerian Bar.
Therefore, students should think of CLE approval as an essential requirement, not a guarantee of automatic admission to the Nigerian Law School.
CLE Accreditation vs University Accreditation: What Students Should Know
One of the most common mistakes applicants make is assuming that general university accreditation automatically covers every programme.
It does not.
The NUC’s role and the CLE’s role are different. A university can be recognised by the NUC while a particular Law programme may have a different status with the Council of Legal Education.
This is why students searching for universities approved to study Law in Nigeria 2026 should check the specific Law programme rather than relying only on the university’s overall reputation.
The safest approach is to confirm:
- The university is recognised by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
- Its Law programme has CLE approval.
- The university is not under a current admission moratorium.
- The approval applies to the academic session for which you are seeking admission.
- The university’s current admission information agrees with the CLE’s status.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CLE accredited universities are there in Nigeria in 2026?
The latest August 2026 list contains 122 universities approved by the Council of Legal Education to admit students into LL.B programmes.
What are the accredited law universities in Nigeria?
The 122 universities listed above are the institutions appearing on the Council of Legal Education’s August 2026 approved list. However, students should pay attention to the admission moratorium information attached to some institutions.
Can I study Law at a university that is not on the CLE list?
You should not enrol in a Law programme at a university that does not have the required CLE approval. The Council has warned that students admitted into unapproved Law programmes will not be eligible for admission into the Nigerian Law School.
Is NUC accreditation enough to study Law?
No. NUC accreditation and CLE approval serve different purposes. Candidates seeking accredited universities to study Law in Nigeria should specifically confirm the Law programme’s status with the Council of Legal Education.
Is University of Ibadan approved to study Law?
Yes. The University of Ibadan appears as number 108 on the August 2026 CLE list.
Is University of Lagos approved to study Law?
Yes. University of Lagos appears on the August 2026 list at number 112.
Is Lead City University approved for Law?
Lead City University appears on the CLE list, but the August 2026 notice states that it has a moratorium covering the 2023/2024 through 2027/2028 academic sessions. Therefore, no fresh Law admission is available for 2026/2027.
Can the CLE remove or add universities to the list?
Yes. The Council has continued to update its approved list. The number of universities increased from 117 in June to 122 in August 2026.
Read also: Schools That Have Released Admission Lists For 2026/2027: Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges
Conclusion
If you are planning to study Law in Nigeria, choosing a university should involve more than looking at cut-off marks, school fees, location or university rankings.
You should first confirm that your preferred institution is among the CLE accredited universities in Nigeria and that it is permitted to admit new Law students for your intended academic session.
The August 2026 CLE update contains 122 universities approved to admit students into LL.B programmes. However, the Council’s list also shows that admission status can vary by institution because of specific moratoriums.
Before paying an acceptance fee or school fees, always verify the latest position of your chosen university with the Council of Legal Education and the university itself.
For students searching for universities approved to study Law in Nigeria 2026, this updated list is an important starting point, but it should not replace checking the latest admission information before making a final decision.
