The Nigerian Law School has recognised outstanding graduating students for the 2026 Call to Bar, with Israel Adekunle Adeniyi emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student.

The awardees were honoured during the 2026 Call to Bar ceremonies held from July 7 to 10 at the Body of Benchers Complex, Abuja, where successful Bar Part II candidates were formally admitted to the Nigerian Bar.

The honours covered overall best graduating students, course leaders and individual subject prize winners across the core Bar Part II courses, including Civil Litigation, Criminal Litigation, Corporate Law, Property Law and Professional Ethics.

Adeniyi, who completed his Bar Part II programme at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School, had earlier distinguished himself at the University of Ilorin, where he graduated as the best student in Common Law with a CGPA of 4.83. Reports also said he was honoured with a ₦2 million cash award by the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation in recognition of his academic excellence.

According to a Nigerian Law School-focused media platform, YoungVIP Media, the 2026 list also recognised Chiamaka Happiness Modestus of Igbinedion University, Okada, and Adetutu Loren Gomez of the University of Lagos as Joint Female Best Graduating Students and Joint Second Overall Best Graduating Students.

The list further named Timilehin Adebayo and Freedolyn Ani as Joint Third Overall Best Graduating Students.

Overall Best Graduating Students

  1. Israel Adekunle Adeniyi — Overall Best Graduating Student
    University of Ilorin, Common Law
    Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus
  2. Chiamaka Happiness Modestus — Joint Female Best Graduating Student and Joint Second Overall
    Igbinedion University, Okada
  3. Adetutu Loren Gomez — Joint Female Best Graduating Student and Joint Second Overall
    University of Lagos
  4. Timilehin Adebayo — Joint Third Overall
  5. Freedolyn Ani — Joint Third Overall
    Obafemi Awolowo University

Course Leaders

The Nigerian Law School also recognised graduates who emerged best in the core professional courses.

They are:

  1. Civil Litigation — Ifeoluwa Ajaiyeoba
  2. Professional Ethics — Ogechi C. Ifezie
  3. Criminal Litigation — Timilehin Adebayo
  4. Corporate Law — Emmanuel Oyelami
  5. Property Law — Francis Obiahu Alu

Individual Course Prize Winners

Criminal Litigation

  1. First Prize: Timilehin Adebayo J. — Abuja Campus, University of Lagos
  2. Second Prize: Oluwatomisin Daniel P. — University of Ilorin
  3. Third Prize: Happiness Modestus C. — Port Harcourt Campus, Igbinedion University, Okada

Corporate Law

  1. First Prize: Emmanuel Oyelami T. — Abuja Campus, University of Ibadan
  2. Second Prize: Ndukwu Chibundom K. — Yenagoa Campus, Nnamdi Azikiwe University
  3. Third Prize: Israel Adeniyi A. — Lagos Campus, University of Ilorin

Property Law

  1. First Prize: Francis Obiahu Alu — Lagos Campus
  2. Second Prize: Victoria Sogade A. — Enugu Campus, University of Lagos
  3. Third Prize: Niniolaoluwa Ilori T. — Lagos Campus, Ajayi Crowther University

Civil Litigation

  1. First Prize: Ifeoluwa Ajaiyeoba F. — Abuja Campus, Afe Babalola University
  2. Second Prize: Ivy-Mary Eweputanna A. — Lagos Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  3. Third Prize: Sandra Idoko E. — Lagos Campus, Father Adasu University

Professional Ethics

  1. First Prize: Ogechi C. Ifezie — Lagos Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
  2. Second Prize: Israel Adeniyi A. — Lagos Campus, University of Ilorin

Other recognised subject prize winners include Victoria Sogade, Niniolaoluwa Ilori, Ivy-Mary Eweputanna, Sandra Idoko, Oluwatomisin Daniel and Ndukwu Chibundom.

The recognition highlights the Nigerian Law School’s tradition of rewarding academic excellence and professional competence among candidates who complete the demanding Bar Part II programme.

For the award recipients, the honours mark the peak of years of academic discipline, from undergraduate legal studies to professional training at the Nigerian Law School.

The 2026 Call to Bar also added a new set of legal practitioners to the Nigerian legal profession, while the prize winners set a strong benchmark for future Bar students.

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