The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, has come under fire after describing some protesting Law students of the institution as “intellectually bankrupt.”

The remark was made on Monday when the students protested the 10-year moratorium imposed on the university’s Law programme by the Council of Legal Education (CLE). The students are demanding answers over the impact of the decision on their studies and prospects of proceeding to the Nigerian Law School.

The DVC was heard telling the students to stop “talking rubbish” before stating that “many of you are intellectually bankrupt.” He also told them that if they eventually became as successful as him, they should thank God. The comments have triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning the manner in which the university official addressed students facing uncertainty over their academic future.

The protest followed the CLE’s decision to place Atiba University’s Law programme under a 10-year moratorium. The council said the university’s facilities were inadequate for the operation of a Faculty of Law and alleged that students had been admitted and graduated without the required regulatory approval.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has backed the affected students and called for sanctions against the university, while demanding a clear solution for students whose academic and professional futures have been thrown into uncertainty by the regulatory decision.