Sixty-eight legal practitioners have been elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) following approval by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).
The decision was reached during the committee’s 174th plenary session in Abuja, presided over by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, according to a statement released Thursday by Supreme Court Chief Registrar and LPPC Secretary, Kabir Akan.
The formal swearing-in ceremony for the 68 awardees, which includes advocate applicants and Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri as the sole academic applicant, is scheduled for October 12, 2026. Prior to the ceremony, all candidates must successfully complete a mandatory pre-swearing-in induction programme, with dates to be announced later.
The LPPC emphasised that the SAN rank recognizes legal professionals who display “exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.”
Ahead of the formal conferment, the LPPC issued a strict warning prohibiting successful candidates from issuing or authorizing congratulatory notices, advertisements, or public goodwill messages regarding their elevation.
Referencing statutory and ethical standards under Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, the committee cautioned:
“Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated.”