The forum of law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) seeking inclusion for training in law school. The graduates sought the NJC leave to mandate Council of Legal Education (CLE) to extend admission quotas to National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for vocational training in the Nigerian Law School.
According to the law graduates, in a petition signed by their chairman – Carl Umegboro, they took the CLE to court seeking redress at the Federal High Court for a peaceful resolutions, but for three years of being in court (after graduation), they have faced delays and politically-motivated technicalities adopted to frustrate the efforts.
The petition reads: “It has become indispensable to bring to your notice the agonizing intimidations and frustrations by the Council of Legal Education (CLE) in conjunction with the judiciary as a whole over our rightful admission and training in the Nigerian Law School, a facility-solely owned by the federal government of Nigeria.
“Following CLE’s refusal to extend admission quotas to National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) for vocational training in the Nigerian Law School despite the university’s accreditation and approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and federal government respectively, we, the NOUN Law graduates civilly and respectfully approached to seek redress at the Federal High Court for peaceful resolutions, but for three years in court (after graduation), we have faced unjustifiable delays and politically-motivated technicalities adopted to frustrate the efforts of innocent citizens. But still confident on the legal justice system which we aspire to be practitioners, we remained unruffled patiently waited for justice to take its course.
“Eventually, the arguments on the matter successfully took place on 07 December, 2016, and the presiding judge, Hon. Justice B.O. Quadri fixed 27 January, 2017 to deliver judgment. As scheduled, on our arrival from all geographical zones in the country as delegates to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, the ugly news was broken that the judgment we travelled far distances to witness would not be delivered as the presiding judge has been transferred to Abuja Judicial Division after fixing the judgment but without directives on the matter.
“By implication, a matter already fixed for judgment may be recommenced, sadly not by judicial orders of a superior court accordingly. What an aberration, intimidation and tyranny.
“We reject such vindictiveness and undue influences, and request that you use your good offices to see that the needful is timely done as we also solemnly call upon all well-meaning Nigerians and civil society groups to stand against tyranny and acts capable of thwarting the rule of law in the society before it is too late. See also DAILY SUN Newspapers of 06 February, 2017 at page 14 titled “Between Law School and NOUN Law Graduates”.
“We look forward to your urgent patriotic interventions.”
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