Saraki challenges Kwara AG's bid for SAN title

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Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has written to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC). He is asking them to block the nomination of Kwara State’s Attorney General, Sulyman Ibrahim, for the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank. Saraki claims Ibrahim abused his office to push politically motivated criminal cases.

In his petition, Saraki, who was also a governor of Kwara State, urged the LPPC to look into what he called Ibrahim’s misuse of prosecutorial powers. He requested that the committee delay any decision on Ibrahim’s SAN rank until after the investigation.

Saraki’s petition, dated 25 May and backed by an affidavit sworn on 9 July, pointed out two specific criminal cases he says Ibrahim wrongfully pursued against him this year.

One case involves what Saraki describes as “trumped-up” charges related to the 2018 Offa robbery in Kwara State. The other case involves charges against him for saying on social media that the current governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, did not finish secondary school.

Saraki stated that the police and the Department of Public Prosecutions investigated the Offa robbery case and cleared him of any wrongdoing. He said the suspects were convicted and jailed, and there was no evidence linking him to the crime.

“My Lord, since the conclusion of the definitive 2018 investigation, the Nigeria Police Force has neither reopened the case nor conducted any fresh inquiry indicting me or the other co-defendants,” he said. He accused Ibrahim of using the powers of the Attorney General’s office not to promote justice, but as a political weapon.

On the social media charges, Saraki expressed disbelief that his comments about Governor Abdulrazaq’s education could lead to a breach of peace, as claimed by Ibrahim.

“I state categorically that the attitude, official conduct and apparent professional desperation of the applicant, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim, Esq, completely fall short of the high standard of integrity, honour, and professional ethics,” Saraki wrote.

He also stated that Ibrahim has damaged the reputation of the Nigerian Bar by filing charges he knew had no legal basis. This, according to Saraki, was just a political attack against him.

Saraki filed his petition after the LPPC released a list of candidates for the 2026 SAN rank, inviting public comments on their integrity and professional competence. Ibrahim is listed as number 56 on that list.

The LPPC plans to announce the final list of successful candidates for the SAN rank between July and August, with a ceremony set for September during the Supreme Court’s new legal year.

Saraki sent his petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who chairs the LPPC. This committee has the power to grant the esteemed SAN rank to deserving lawyers who excel in legal practice or academics.

Saraki emphasized that the SAN rank should be given not just for professional achievements but also for integrity, fairness, and high ethical standards.

He argued that he has a duty to protect the integrity of the Inner Bar and that Ibrahim’s actions raise serious doubts about his fitness for this high legal honor.

In the supporting affidavit, Saraki stressed that he was qualified to present these facts due to his involvement in preparing the petition and his personal knowledge of the issues.

He said the office of the attorney general is crucial and must be used fairly and in the public interest. Saraki believes that the powers of this office should never be used to target political opponents or advance personal interests.

Saraki made it clear that his petition is not meant to challenge the authority of the LPPC but to highlight serious concerns about Ibrahim’s ethical fitness for the SAN rank.

The petition mainly revolves around two criminal cases against him filed by the Kwara State Government under Ibrahim’s leadership. Saraki accuses these prosecutions of lacking legal basis and being part of a campaign of political harassment.

“I firmly state that the attitude, official conduct and apparent professional desperation of the applicant for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim, fall far below the high standards of integrity, honour and professional ethics required of any legal practitioner worthy of elevation to the Inner Bar,” Saraki stated.

Saraki’s petition also mentions the 2018 Offa robbery case, which was a significant criminal case in Nigeria. After the robbery, suspects were arrested, but prosecutors found no link to Saraki.

The Nigeria Police Force investigated the robbery and sent the case file to the Attorney General of the Federation for review.

According to Saraki, a legal advice from the federal Department of Public Prosecutions dated 22 June 2018 found a prima facie case against only five suspects. These suspects were later convicted, and the Court of Appeal upheld their convictions.

Saraki claims that this same legal advice did not accuse him of any wrongdoing. Despite this, Ibrahim, as attorney general, filed new charges against Saraki and three others on 9 April.

These new charges were based on the same facts from the earlier investigation, showing a lack of new evidence linking him to the alleged offences.

Saraki believes that the decision to prosecute him was a misuse of the attorney general’s constitutional powers and aimed at political goals, not justice.

He also argues that the charges were meant to embarrass him, tarnish his reputation, and harm his political image.

Saraki attached copies of the Federal DPP’s legal advice, the charge sheet, and other documents to support his claims about the prosecution.

He also highlighted another criminal case filed against him by the Kwara State Government. In this case, Ibrahim accused Saraki of making statements that could provoke public unrest.

This charge was based on Saraki’s comments about the governor’s education status. Saraki argues that this allegation does not constitute a crime and questions the attorney general’s decision to pursue it.

He stated that this is another example of misusing the criminal justice system to target political opponents and suppress free speech.

“It is impossible to fathom, by any legal interpretation, how this assertion is likely to provoke the Governor and the Kwara State Government into a breach of the peace,” Saraki asserted.

He indicated that he was not invited by police for questioning before the charges were filed against him. He only learned about the case when court documents were posted at his home, instructing him to appear in court on 10 June.

Through these two cases, Saraki believes that Ibrahim has misused the powers of the attorney general’s office, failing to uphold impartial justice.

He insists that the attorney general must act in the public interest with fairness and restraint.

According to Saraki, prosecutorial powers should not be used for political gain, to punish critics, or to settle scores with opponents.

He claims that Ibrahim’s actions show a lack of the professional judgement and ethical standards expected of a lawyer aiming for the SAN rank.

“By weaponising the criminal justice system for ulterior motives, Sulyman Ibrahim, Esq. has brought disrepute to the noble legal profession and demonstrated a lack of fairness and integrity expected of a minister in the temple of justice,” Saraki said in the affidavit.

Saraki urged the LPPC to look into the two criminal cases before making any decisions on Ibrahim’s SAN application. He asked the committee to examine the charges related to the Offa robbery case and the alleged public peace offence.

The former senate president argued that the SAN rank should be based not only on courtroom skills but also on character, integrity, and respect for the law.

“I respectfully urge the Distinguished Committee to thoroughly investigate the facts surrounding the malicious filing of Charge No. KWS/114C/2026 and Charge No. KWS/151C/2026, and consequently step down or withhold the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Senior Sulyman Ibrahim, Esq., pending a thorough determination of his ethical fitness,” he said.

The petition included copies of the Federal DPP’s legal advice from 22 June 2018, the charge sheets for both cases, and the affidavit sworn before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.
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