The Centre for Islamic Legal Studies was established as a Centre in the University in 1965 by the first Vice-Chancellor of A.B.U. (a Briton) to fulfil the dream of the Late Premier of Northern Region who nurtured the idea of establishing a Centre that would be saddled with the mandate of research in Islamic Law.  The Centre in its 55 years of existence has had 16 Directors, with the sixteenth Director, Professor M.B. Uthman currently at the helm of affairs.  As a research centre, the Centre is one of the most active research centres in the university that serves as a rallying point for all Muslims in Nigeria irrespective of their sect.