A Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, has described some students protesting the crisis surrounding the institution’s Law programme as “intellectually bankrupt”.
The DVC made the comment on Monday while speaking to students who had gathered outside the university to protest the 10-year moratorium imposed on the institution’s Law programme by the Council of Legal Education (CLE).
The students’ protest followed the CLE’s decision to halt the programme over what it identified as deficiencies in the university’s facilities and breaches of regulations governing legal education.
In a video circulating online on Tuesday, the university official appealed for calm as he addressed the protesters.
He said, “Let’s calm down. We’re all intellectual beings, so one day you might even find yourself in my shoes. So, don’t talk rubbish because you don’t know what your future will be.”
The students, however, asked him to address the immediate challenges confronting them.
“Sir, let’s focus on this one. Let’s focus on our present,” one of the students said.
The DVC then said, “Listen, listen! Many of you are intellectually bankrupt. When I say you don’t know what your future holds and you are replying to me, I’m a successful man! If you are able to be like me in life, thank your Almighty God! What are you talking about?”
During the exchange, another student displayed a document on a mobile phone and drew attention to the date of the CLE’s decision.
“August 19th, signed by the Secretary of Council of Legal Education, August 19th…” the student said.
Responding, the DVC dismissed the date as irrelevant and asked the protesters to pay attention to his explanation.
“Doesn’t matter! Just listen! Just listen! Whatever… noise will not help you. I’ve been shouting it. Noise will not help you! Crisis will not help you!
There are some fundamental issues that you must understand. I showed a letter to one of you the other day,” he said.
He further disclosed that the problems affecting the Law programme existed before the university obtained accreditation.
“This thing is not just there online. It was there before our accreditation,” he said.
The statement drew boos from the protesting students.
The confrontation occurred a day after the CLE announced a 10-year moratorium on Atiba University’s Law programme, citing concerns over its facilities and compliance with regulatory requirements.
The council said the university’s facilities were “inappropriate and inadequate” for the establishment and operation of a Faculty of Law.
It also alleged that the institution admitted and graduated students without securing the necessary approval.
The decision has sparked concern among affected students and graduates, particularly over their ability to continue their legal education at the Nigerian Law School.
Amid the controversy, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, shared a video on Tuesday which appeared to show the DVC climbing a fence while attempting to leave the university.
Babatunde wrote, “The Law Student’s of ATIBA UNIVERSITY, make sure the DVC who spoke to them rudely and arrogantly during their protest yesterday, could not leave the school, until he escaped through the Fence…
“This is the type of judgement that await all Oppressor … We are in solidarity with the Law Students and we will join them to get justice…”
In a separate statement dated August 24, 2026, NANS declared its support for the affected Law students and criticised Atiba University’s management over the continued admission of students into the programme despite the absence of CLE recognition and approval.
The student body said the situation had left graduates stranded and accused the university management of ignoring repeated complaints from the affected students and interventions by NANS.
It said, “It is rather appalling that despite the affected students’ continuous agitations and the intervention of the apex student representative body, NANS, the management of Atiba University, Oyo State, has paid no heed to these genuine agitations.
“Every sane individual must begin to question the integrity, efficiency, and competence of the management of Atiba University, Oyo State.
We have it on record that despite the University’s inability to secure the recognition and approval of the Law programme by the Council of Legal Education (CLE), which has left graduates stranded and unable to proceed to the Nigerian Law School, the management of Atiba University, Oyo State, is still admitting students into this programme,” the statement read.
NANS subsequently called on the National Universities Commission to withdraw Atiba University’s licence and demanded that the institution resolve the outstanding issues surrounding its Law programme.
The association also urged the university to establish a clear pathway for qualified students and graduates to proceed to the Nigerian Law School, warning that failure to address the matter promptly could result in further escalation.