“NONCHALANT?” 𝗙𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗢𝗡 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗪 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗦

BY SYLVESTER UDEMEZUE

(A). Questions and Observations by Respected Learned Damilola Mumuni, Esq. (Legal Practitioner) posted on the Law and Society WhatsApp Platform on April 10, 2025:

“Please release the results, sir. Also, the session has resumed, and some schools have not received their postings. Why is the law school so nonchalant in 2025?”

(B). A Strictly Personal Reaction by Mr. Udems:

Thank you for your thoughtful observations and questions—they show your genuine interest in improving legal education in Nigeria. Please note that my response reflects my personal opinion; I do not speak for or represent the Nigerian Law School. My views are based on my own experiences, observations, available information, and years of research.

1. Based on the information available to me, the Nigerian Law School has completed all processes related to the November 2024 Bar Part 2 exams, and I can confidently confirm that the results are set to be released. From my experience within the system, I believe that any perceived delay is due to actions taken in the best interest of the students and aspiring lawyers. For those demanding reasons for the delay, I must emphasize that certain aspects of the exam-processing and result-release process are not meant for public discussion. However, the NLS always prioritizes the interests of its students, the legal profession, and the country. What the NLS will never do is pass a student who deserves to fail or fail one who deserves to pass. Integrity is at the core of the NLS—it’s embedded in its operations and upheld through the concept of “Fit and Proper,” as upheld in the case of OKONJO v. Council of Legal Education (1979).

2. I’ve noticed that many lawyers criticize the Nigerian Law School—especially over the perceived delay in releasing the November 2024 Bar final exam results—without first seeking clarification or asking questions. I often wonder why they don’t reach out to NLS Management for answers, given that some matters can’t be publicly discussed. What has happened to the legal principle of Audi Alteram Partem, which requires hearing the other side before forming conclusions or passing judgment?

3. I respectfully urge all Nigerian lawyers, as key stakeholders in legal education, to always give the Nigerian Law School a fair hearing. The NLS is open to providing explanations for its actions, and the Freedom of Information Act empowers anyone to seek answers—whether by writing or visiting the institution directly. Sadly, over 98% of those who criticize the NLS do so without first making the effort to inquire and understand its operations.

5. In response to your concern about some schools not receiving their postings despite the session having commenced, I must say that the admission process and postings for NLS programs depend on several factors beyond the NLS’s control. Delays often stem from universities not submitting graduate lists on time, making errors in submissions, exceeding their allocated quotas, or applicants failing to follow instructions during the application process. These challenges, which are largely unknown to the public, leave the NLS to manage the fallout. Unfortunately, the NLS is often unfairly blamed for delays that aren’t its fault.

6. In direct response to your query, I advise any admitted student who hasn’t been posted yet to remain calm—everyone with full admission will receive their postings. No one is being treated unfairly, and the NLS has put proper measures in place to ensure all students are treated in their best interest.

7. In response to your comment that the Law School seems nonchalant in 2025, I assure you that the NLS is not, has never been, and will never be nonchalant. The interests of aspiring lawyers, legal education, and the profession are always a top priority for its management and lecturers. While challenges and occasional lapses may exist, the actions of those at the NLS are always driven by a commitment to the greater good of the legal profession, not personal gain.

• Sylvester Udemezue (Udems) is a Legal Practitioner, Law Teacher, and Proctor of The Reality Ministry of Truth, Law, and Justice (TRM); TheRealityMinister@gmail.com.