The Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) has elevated 57 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), including the Secretary to the Government of Nasarawa State, Shuaib Magaji Labaran, and Osun State Attorney General, Oluwole Tolulope Jimi-Bada.
The list, which was obtained on Thursday, comprises 56 advocates and one academic. According to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Kanir Eniola Akanbi, the list was approved by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, during the LPPC's 169th Plenary Session.
"The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria 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," Akanbi stated.
Among the notable appointees is David Ogenyi Ogebe, son of retired Supreme Court Justice James Ogebe, and Professor Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu, who was selected from academia.
The committee also reviewed three petitions submitted against certain applicants but dismissed them after finding them lacking in merit.
In accordance with directives from the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme as a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the SAN rank.
The LPPC has issued a stern warning to the conferees against publishing advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment, in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Guidelines and Rule 393 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023.
"Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated," Akanbi warned.
Other advocates elevated to the SAN rank include Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, Victor Esiri Akpoguma, Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, Akintunde Wilson Adewale, Preye Agedah, Omamuzo Erebe, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Olumide Ekisola, George Ejie Ukaegbu, and Oromena Justice Ajakpovi.
The swearing-in ceremony for the 57 successful applicants is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 29, 2025.
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