62 lawyers elevated as SANs

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has announced the elevation of 62 lawyers to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Among them are three lawyers engaged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, although two of them – Sylvanus Tahir and Rotimi Oyedepo – are employees of the EFCC.

But the other lawyer, Wahab Shittu, is engaged by the EFCC for specific cases.

The LPPC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, released the full list of the new SAN-designates in a statement issued on Thursday evening by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Bello, after its 154th plenary session.

Among the 62 successful candidates, 53 of them belong to the advocacy category while the other nine are of the academic category.

The statement said all the 62 appointees would to be sworn in on November 21.

The inauguration of new SANs usually takes place at the Supreme Court during the ceremony marking the commencement of the court’s new legal year.

The SAN rank is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.

Those to be sworn in as SANs are Mohammed Abubakar, Johnson Omophe, Lawrence Oko-Jaja, Christopher Oshomegie, Sanusi Sai’d, Wahab Shittu, Emmanuel Idemudia, Diri Mohammed, Oladipo Tolani, Ayodeji Omotoso, Chijioke Erondu, Ajoku Obinna, Yakubu Maikasuwa and Henry Omu.

Others are Dagogo Iboroma, Joseph Akubo, Gozoe Obi, Inam Wilson, Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, Abioye Asanike, Sylvanus Tahiru, Bolarinwa Aidi, Tonye Krukrubo, Aderemi Bashua, Kolapo Kolade, Samuel Kargbo, Ifeanyichukwu Obiakor, Olasoji Olowolafe, Mutalubi Adebayo, Victor Ogude, Sulayman Ibrahim, Mumini Hanafi, Tanko Ashang, Damian Okoro, Andrew Malgwi and Etukwu Onah.

Other beneficiaries are Adeboro Adamson, Bankole Akomolafe, Kelechi Obi, Andrew Odum, Okoro Edwin, Godson Ugochukwu, Steven Ononye, Ikani Agabi, Mustapha Ibrahim, Muizudeen Abdullahi, Magaji Ibrahim, Sanusi Musa, Oladoyin Awoyale, Rotimi Oyedepo, Chukwudubem Anyigbo, Lukman Fagbemi and Micheal Numa.

The academics are Prof Kathleen Okafor, Prof Muhammed Abdulrazaq, Prof Amokaye Gabriel, Prof Ismail Olatunbosun, Prof Abdullahi Zuru, former Dean, Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof Joy Ezeilo; Associate Prof Theodore Maiyaki, Prof Olaide Gbadamosi and Associate Prof Chimezie Okorie.

“The meeting further approved a new guideline for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and all matters pertaining to the rank to guide future exercises,” the statement added.