57 Lawyers Elevated To SAN Rank As LPPC Holds 169th Plenary Session

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), under the leadership of Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, has approved the elevation of 57 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

This decision came at the Committee’s 169th Plenary Session, held on July 24, 2025, at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The SAN rank represents a mark of professional distinction, awarded to legal practitioners who have demonstrated excellence in litigation or academic contribution to legal development.

A statement by Kabir Akanbi, Esq., who is the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) reveals that during the session, the Committee reviewed and dismissed three petitions filed against some applicants after finding them to lack merit.

The LPPC has emphasised that shortlisted SAN designates must attend and complete the mandatory Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme. This step is a prerequisite for their formal conferment.

The Committee also reinforced Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023. According to these rules, conferees must avoid public advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their elevation.

Violations of these guidelines may attract sanctions for breaching statutory or ethical obligations.

The Swearing-In Ceremony for the new SANs will be held on Monday, September 29, 2025.

Among the successful candidates are Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, Victor Esiri Akpoguma, Omamuzo Erebe, Olumide Ekisola, Godwin Ogbaji, and Adakole Ingegu.

Also listed are prominent advocates such as Shuaib Agbarere Mustapha, Ayodeji Joseph Ademola, Shakkeer Adedayo Oshodi, and Mubarak Tijani Adekilekun.

This year’s list highlights diversity and commitment across different legal sectors, strengthening the bar with a new generation of distinguished leaders.