…asks affected students to return to original departments
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has begun steps to correct admission irregularities in its Faculty of Law, directing affected students to return to the academic programmes into which they were originally admitted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Offiong Offiong, made the appeal during a meeting with affected Law students from the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions, saying the exercise is aimed at aligning the university’s admission process with regulatory requirements.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Anthony Afam Okiwelu, Offiong said the exercise is part of efforts by the current administration to sanitise the institution’s admission process and restore public confidence following recent controversies over admission irregularities.
He said the university could not ignore the anomalies, warning that retaining students who were not admitted into the Faculty of Law through JAMB could attract sanctions from the Council of Legal Education and other regulatory bodies.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, affected students should return to the departments to which they were originally admitted in line with JAMB records to safeguard their academic future.
He warned that students whose admissions were not regularised would be unable to graduate as Law graduates or secure admission into the Nigerian Law School if the irregularities were detected by the Council of Legal Education.
Offiong added that failure to address the situation could also lead to the suspension of admissions into the Faculty of Law, with wider implications for the university’s reputation and prospective students.
He disclosed that of the 435 students currently in the second year of the Faculty of Law, only 221 were originally admitted into the programme through JAMB, describing the development as a clear violation of existing admission regulations.
To cushion the impact of the decision, the Vice-Chancellor said school fees already paid by affected students for the 2025/2026 academic session would be transferred to the 2026/2027 session in their original departments. Those opting to discontinue their studies at the university, he added, would be entitled to refunds after completing the required procedures.
He urged the affected students to cooperate with the university, assuring them that the corrective measures are intended to protect their academic future while preserving the integrity, credibility and accreditation of the institution.
