University of Calabar sends 214 law students back to former departments

The University of Calabar (Unical) management has reversed its decision regarding 214 LLB II students, ordering them to return to their initial departments immediately. This directive affects students who were not originally admitted to the Faculty of Law but had joined the second-year law class from other courses.

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Those students who entered the faculty through other departments will not be eligible to proceed to the Nigerian Law School if they continued in the Faculty of Law under their current admission status.

The decision was finalized during a meeting on Tuesday, August 5, 2026, attended by university management, the Faculty of Law administration, the LLB II class representatives, and the leadership of the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) at Unical. The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Offiong Offiong, stated that out of the 435 students currently in the LLB II class, only 221 were officially admitted to the Faculty of Law. The remaining students had enrolled from different departments.

LAWSAN-UCC highlighted that students admitted through other departments would not be eligible to proceed to the Nigerian Law School if they continued in the Faculty of Law under their current admission status. As a consequence, the university has temporarily locked the portals for the 214 affected students to facilitate their transfer back to their respective original departments. To mitigate the impact of this decision, Unical announced two relief measures: a full refund of school fees for the 2025/2026 academic session and free tuition for the 2026/2027 academic session in their original departments, with the university covering these costs.

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The management announced two relief measures to cushion the effect of the decision on the affected students: Full refund of school fees paid for the 2025/2026 academic session and Free tuition for the 2026/2027 academic session in their original departments, to be borne by the University.

The Law Students’ Association of Nigeria, Unical Chapter, issued a statement acknowledging the emotional toll this development may have on the students. They urged the affected students to remain calm and supportive during the transition process. Further official updates are expected to be communicated directly to the students involved.

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The association acknowledged the “emotional impact of this development” and urged students to remain calm, supportive, and respectful as the process unfolds.