The Law School DG has revealed that only those who pass the bar examinations are eligible for the call saying that malpractice remains a serious offence
The Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Isa Chiroma, has reiterated that examination malpractice remains a serious offence, stressing that anyone caught engaging in such acts during examinations will face grave consequences.
Chiroma made this known on Thursday during an investigative hearing convened by the House Committee on Justice, led by Rep. Olumide Osoba (APC Ogun).
The session focused on a motion concerning the alleged withholding of bar results and the backlog of students awaiting call to bar.
Addressing the lawmakers, Professor Chiroma dismissed recent petitions by hundreds of law graduates who staged a peaceful protest at the entrance of the National Assembly over claims of withheld results.
He clarified that CCTV cameras have been installed across examination halls in the Abuja campus of the law school to enhance transparency and curb malpractice.
He emphasized that the responsibility for calling graduates to the bar lies with the Body of Benchers, not the Nigerian Law School, and insisted that only those who pass the bar examinations are eligible for the call.
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“The Law School is not the one calling people to the bar. The Body of Benchers does. And if you have not passed your exams, you cannot be called,” he stated.
The DG presented visual evidence, including images of female students caught with examination notes written on various parts of their bodies.
Before concluding his remarks, Professor Chiroma jokingly asked: “Chairman, I hope you’re not fasting today?” drawing laughter from the lawmakers.
Explaining the disciplinary process, he said:
“When somebody is apprehended in the examination hall, there’s a process. First and foremost, whether it’s called copy, or he came in with extraneous materials, or a telephone – these are strict liability offences. Whether you used the phone or not, it’s an offence once it’s in the hall.”
He continued:
“They come before a committee of management, which determines guilt. They’re allowed to defend themselves. Most times, you hear things like, ‘It’s the work of the devil’, ‘It won’t happen again’, ‘Forgive us, it was a mistake’. But the evidence speaks for itself.”
Professor Chiroma further explained that the law school operates on a strict academic calendar.
“At the beginning of every session, we advertise for admissions. We have timelines for lectures, internship, mock trials, and examinations. Results are processed by the Board of Examiners, reviewed by the Board of Studies, then forwarded to the Council Committee for ratification. Once the Council approves the results, they are released on the portal immediately.”
He clarified that there is no arbitrary withholding of results, saying: “Any result withheld has to do with examination malpractice. There’s no other reason.”
Speaking on the call to bar process, the DG explained:
“The call to bar is not an activity of the Council of Legal Education. It is solely the responsibility of the Body of Benchers, and they operate on a fixed calendar. The next call to bar ceremonies are scheduled for July 8–10, and November 18–20.”
In response to the presentation, Rep. Osoba commended the installation of CCTV cameras at the Abuja campus and called for additional funding to replicate the system in other law school campuses nationwide.
He also praised the school for presenting pictorial evidence of exam malpractice to the committee and disclosed that the committee will soon embark on an oversight visit to campuses across the country to assess the state of infrastructure.
