6,009 Candidates Admitted to Nigerian Bar in July Ceremonies

AllAfrica reported that 6,009 candidates were admitted to the Nigerian Bar during ceremonies held July 7-10 at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja. Of those, 6,000 had passed the December 2025 Bar Final Examinations and nine came from the February 2025 backlog and prior calls.

Albert Akpomudje, chairperson of the Body of Benchers and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, formally admitted the candidates.

He urged the new lawyers to maintain integrity, discipline and professional ethics, and to seek mentorship from senior practitioners. Akpomudje stated that 'Barrister' is not a professional title to be used as a prefix before names. He also condemned aspirants who wore full legal attire and circulated photographs on social media before formal admission, describing the practice as unethical.

Olugbemisola Odusote, Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, presented the candidates and certified that they had completed the required course and were fit and proper in learning and character under the Legal Education Act. She congratulated them on reaching a milestone in their careers and urged them to uphold integrity, excellence, professionalism and service to humanity.

The Council of Legal Education reported that 212 candidates earned First Class honours in the December 2025 examinations.

Of 7,602 candidates who sat those exams, 6,000 passed, for a 79.1 per cent pass rate. The Body of Benchers is the statutory body responsible for admitting qualified law graduates to the Nigerian Bar and regulating professional conduct. The annual Call to the Bar is the final stage of legal training in Nigeria before enrolment at the Supreme Court.