The House of Representatives on Thursday expressed deep concern over the prolonged delay in the release of Bar examination results for over 6,000 students by the Council of Legal Education.
The lawmakers raised the issue during a debate on a motion titled “Urgent Need to Address the Withholding of Bar Results and Backlog of Students Awaiting Call to Bar,” sponsored by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Hon. Ayokunle Isiaka.
Leading the debate, Hon. Isiaka criticised the Council’s handling of the matter, stating that withholding the results has severe implications for the country’s legal system and the future of aspiring lawyers.
“The House is concerned that the ongoing delay in releasing Bar examination results and the backlog of students awaiting their Call to Bar is not just an administrative issue but a humanitarian crisis that requires immediate intervention,” he stated.
He further lamented that since November 2024, at least three students awaiting their Bar results had passed away, including Mr. Sunday Nwaham (March 22, 2025) and Mrs. Oluyinka Ogundipe (February 7, 2025). He described their deaths as a tragic consequence of the stress and uncertainty caused by the delays.
“This is not an isolated incident; it reflects the profound distress that many students are enduring. Additionally, some elderly individuals, aged between 70 and 80, who pursued legal education out of passion for justice, are also caught in this bureaucratic limbo,” Isiaka added.
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He stressed that the legal profession is founded on the principles of justice and fairness, and these values must be upheld within the institutions responsible for training future lawyers.
“The current situation is a disservice to those who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of justice and the rule of law. We must act urgently to address this issue for the sake of the affected students, their families, and the nation as a whole,” he urged.
Following the debate, the House mandated the joint Committees on Judiciary and Justice to engage with the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School to facilitate the immediate release of all outstanding Bar results.
The committees were also tasked with urging the Council to streamline the Call to Bar process by establishing a clear and efficient system to prioritise those who have completed their education and are ready to contribute to the legal profession.
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