The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, (LPPC), has elevated 57 lawyers to the exalted rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
According to a statement by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Eniola Akanbi, the list was approved by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at the LPPC’s 169th Plenary Session held on Thursday.
The list comprises of 56 advocates and 1 from the academia.
Amongst those elevated is the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Shuaib Labaran, and the Osun State Attorney General, Oluwole Jimi-Bada.
Also elevated to the prestigious rank is David Ogenyi Ogebe, son of a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice James Ogebe, as well as Professor Chima Ubanyionwu, who is the only successful candidate from the academia.
According to the Chief Registrar, the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the Courts or as academics, contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.
In the statement, Akanbi noted that during the session, the Committee also considered three (3) petitions submitted against certain applicants, and upon thorough review, each petition was found to be lacking in merit and was accordingly dismissed.
He further stated that in accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted prospective Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme and participation is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the SAN rank.
Meanwhile, the conferees have been warned that in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 393 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, prohibited from publishing of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment, as any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated.
Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony for the 57 successful applicants is scheduled to hold on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Editor: Ken Eseni
