Kwara Attorney-General and 67 Others Get SAN Rank

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank for 68 lawyers in Nigeria.

The LPPC, led by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, approved the new SANs during their 174th meeting on Thursday.

The announcement came from Kabir Akanbi, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

The new SANs will be inaugurated on Monday, 12 October. The CJN usually swears in new SANs at the start of the Supreme Court’s new legal year.

Among the successful candidates is the Attorney-General of Kwara State, Sulyman Ibrahim. His nomination faced opposition from former Governor Bukola Saraki.

Saraki sent a petition to the LPPC after the first list of nominees came out. He asked for the suspension of Ibrahim's SAN rank for allegedly misusing his office against him.

Despite Saraki's petition, Ibrahim made the final list of SAN-designates.

The 68 selected lawyers were picked from a list of 89 nominees published in June. This was after interviews, reviews of petitions, and the nominees’ defense.

The long list was shared to allow public scrutiny. People were encouraged to submit valid reasons against any nominee if they felt undeserving of the SAN rank.

The LPPC's Thursday list shows that 21 other candidates were not selected for various reasons.

The SAN rank is given to lawyers who show outstanding excellence as advocates in court or as academics who contribute to legal scholarship.

Of the 68 successful candidates, only one received the SAN rank in the academic category. The remaining 67 were from the advocate category.

The advocate category includes names like Ibrahim Adamu, Jude Okafor, Achibong Umoh, Sunday Obende, Adebayo Adaralegbe, and Jimson Okodaso.

Others in this group are Olalekan Bade-John, Olaotan Olusegun, Philemeon Daffi, Adenrele David Adegborioye, James Agbonhese, and Alexander Muoka.

Also included are Okodiya Emmanuel Akomaye, Ikhide Ehighelua, Mas’ud Alabelewe, Ogunmuyiwa Balogun, Anthony Iroagalachi, and Mohammed Mohammed.

Additionally, Odion Peter Odia, Gbemiga Adaramola, Moses Onyilokwu, Charles Obodozie, Hakeem Agaba, and Bimbo Atilola made the list.

Others are Okechukwu Emelieze, Joshua Olaniyan, Igonikon Adekunle, Christian Nwokorie, Momoh Ilegieuno, Kolawole Idowu, and Olujoke Aliu.

The list continues with Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie, Adebisi Adeniyi, Faruk Abdullah, Sagir Suleiman, Ifeanyi Ezeuko, and Adebayo Ologe.

Also noted are Sabiu Adamu, Eric Omare, Soibi Ovia, Peter Johnbull, Chinedum Umeche, Emmanuel Ekhasemomhe, and Mohammed Sheriff.

The final names include Junaidu Marshall, Olawale Fapohunda, Adebiyi Adetosoye, Sulyman Ibrahim, and Agba Eimunjeze.

Last on the list are Ayobamidele Akande, Adetunj Adeniyi, Mojigbotoluwa Adekunle, Umaru Yunusa, Akorede Lawal, Darlington Ozurumba, Francis Egonn, Kayode Omosehin, and Mitchel Aribisala.

The remaining names are Agbaje Akadri, Oluwaseun Alao, Olugbenga Ajala, Mustapha Ajenifuja, Hassan Adebayo, Mohammed Adelodun, Jonathan Makinde, and Olajide Salami.

Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, a professor, was the only one in the academic category.

The LPPC also gave instructions to the SAN-designates. They must attend a mandatory induction course.

The LPPC stated, "The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is given to legal practitioners who have shown exceptional excellence either as advocates in court or as academics contributing significantly to legal scholarship."

They added, "All shortlisted prospective SAN conferees must attend and complete the pre-swearing-in induction programme. Participation is mandatory for the rank of SAN. The date will be communicated later."

The LPPC also warned the SAN-designates not to publish or encourage ads, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices about their nomination or conferment.

They stated, "Any breach of these rules may lead to sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules."