The Nigerian Law School list of outstanding graduating students for the 2026 Call to Bar recognises exceptional performances across the Bar Part II examinations, with Israel Adeniyi emerging as the Overall Best Graduating Student.

The award recipients were honoured during the 2026 Call to Bar ceremonies held from July 7 to 10 at the Body of Benchers Complex, Abuja, where thousands of new lawyers were formally admitted to the Nigerian Bar after successfully completing the mandatory professional legal training.

The honours, which include overall best graduating students, course leaders and subject prize winners, celebrate graduates who distinguished themselves academically during their time at the Nigerian Law School.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that Adeniyi completed his Bar Part II programme at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School before emerging as the overall best graduating student.

His latest feat came after an equally impressive undergraduate career at the University of Ilorin, where he graduated as the best student in the Common Law programme with a cumulative grade point average of 4.83.

Following his achievement, the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Foundation honoured him with a ₦2m cash award in recognition of his outstanding academic performance.

According to YoungVIP Media, a Nigerian Law School-focused media platform on Friday, the 2026 prize winners include:

Overall best graduating students

Israel Adekunle Adeniyi – Overall Best Graduating Student

* University of Ilorin (Common Law)

* Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus

Chiamaka Happiness Modestus – Joint Female Best Graduating Student and Joint Second Overall

· Igbinedion University, Okada

Adetutu Loren Gomez – Joint Female Best Graduating Student and Joint Second Overall

· University of Lagos

Timilehin Adebayo – Joint Third Overall

Freedolyn Ani – Joint Third Overall

· Obafemi Awolowo University

Course leaders

Several graduates also emerged as the best students in the core professional law courses offered during the Bar programme.

They are:

* Civil Litigation: Ifeoluwa Ajaiyeoba

* Professional Ethics: Ogechi C. Ifezie

* Criminal Litigation: Timilehin Adebayo

* Corporate Law: Emmanuel Oyelami

* Property Law: Francis Obiahu Alu

Individual course prize winners

The Nigerian Law School also presented first, second and third prizes to students who excelled in the core Bar Part II courses.

Criminal Litigation

* First Prize: Timilehin Adebayo J. – Abuja Campus (University of Lagos)

* Second Prize: Oluwatomisin Daniel P. – University of Ilorin

* Third Prize: Happiness Modestus C. – Port Harcourt Campus (Igbinedion University, Okada)

Corporate Law

* First Prize: Emmanuel Oyelami T. – Abuja Campus (University of Ibadan)

* Second Prize: Ndukwu Chibundom K. – Yenagoa Campus (Nnamdi Azikiwe University)

* Third Prize: Israel Adeniyi A. – Lagos Campus (University of Ilorin)

Property Law

* First Prize: Francis Obiahu Alu – Lagos Campus

* Second Prize: Victoria Sogade A. – Enugu Campus (University of Lagos)

* Third Prize: Niniolaoluwa Ilori T. – Lagos Campus (Ajayi Crowther University)

Civil Litigation

* First Prize: Ifeoluwa Ajaiyeoba F. – Abuja Campus (Afe Babalola University)

* Second Prize: Ivy-Mary Eweputanna A. – Lagos Campus (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

* Third Prize: Sandra Idoko E. – Lagos Campus (Father Adasu University)

Professional Ethics

* First Prize: Ogechi C. Ifezie – Lagos Campus (University of Nigeria, Nsukka)

* Second Prize: Israel Adeniyi A. – Lagos Campus (University of Ilorin)

Other subject prize winners

The Nigerian Law School also recognised outstanding performances by:

* Victoria Sogade

* Niniolaoluwa Ilori

* Ivy-Mary Eweputanna

* Sandra Idoko

* Oluwatomisin Daniel

* Ndukwu Chibundom

The recognition of these graduates underscores the Nigerian Law School’s tradition of rewarding academic excellence and professional competence among prospective legal practitioners.

For many of the award recipients, the honours cap years of consistent academic excellence, beginning from their undergraduate studies through the demanding Bar Part II programme, where students undergo intensive training in civil litigation, criminal litigation, corporate law, property law and professional ethics before qualifying to be called to the Nigerian Bar.

The 2026 Call to Bar also marked another milestone for legal education in Nigeria, with thousands of newly qualified lawyers joining the legal profession, while the outstanding graduates set a benchmark of excellence for future Bar students. (The PUNCH)