Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun on Monday inaugurated 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria and hinted of a review of requirements for the award.
She said the requirements for the rank of SAN will be continuously review order to ensure that the highest standards are maintained.
Particularly, as “the docket of the Supreme Court is unnecessarily clogged by legal practitioners seeking to attain the rank by making up the required number of judgements from the court whereas many of the appeals do not contribute to our jurisprudence.”
She advised the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria that the rank carries with it a lot of responsibilities. “From this moment, your behaviour and general conduct will now be publicly scrutinized by all those who come in contact with you.”
She asked them to watch their utterances, actions and their company, as each of them now have “an even higher responsibility to assist the court in attaining justice, equity and fairness.”
“You must display enormous integrity, self-discipline, leadership and high standards of advocacy.”
“The conferment of the rank on you today authorises you to use the letters, “SAN” as a life-time appellation after your names. Similarly, it has conferred on you the uncommon privilege of wearing the silk gown and full-bottomed wig. In addition, you now have the enviable privilege of sitting at the inner bar of our courtrooms across the country and also having your cases mentioned first in all courts.
“However, you are reminded that the rank of SAN is a privilege and not a right, conferred after due deliberation by the LPPC. It is a privilege that can be withdrawn if it is abused.”
“As holders of the esteemed rank, a higher level of integrity, ethics and accountability is expected of you. The young lawyers equally need your mentoring and guidance while the court needs your erudition, advocacy and positive contribution to effective justice delivery.
Those inaugurated in the order of seniority are:
- Lateef Olaseinde Karim
- Godwin Tagbo Ike
- Johnson Odionu
- Nnodim Marcellinus Duru
- Innocent Adams Ovbagbedia
- Soronnadi Anthony Njoku
- Adamu Abubakar
- Charles Oyaole Musa
- Udochi Nunny Iheanacho
- David Dare Onietan
- Elele Chinatu Casmir
- Josiah Rapuluchuks Nduka
- Godwin Ikechukwu Obeta
- Habeeb Orisavia Ilavbare
- Moses Kolade Obafemi
- Mathew Echezonam Esonanjor
- Baba Fika Dalah
- Babatunde Ademoye Sodipo
- Mustapha Ikhegbe Abubakar
- Emmanuel Ibhagbemien Esene
- Henry Adedayo Bello
- Boniface Chinedu Moore
- Clement Amechi Ezika
- Omokayode Adebayo Dada
- Edwin Anikwem
- Roy Ogbonnaya Umahi Nwaeze
- Olumide Oniyire Olugbenga
- Monday Onyekachi Ubani
- Ayoola Olufemi Ajayi
- Paul Chukwuma Obi
- Olasupo Dominic Ati-John
- Cole Segun Ololade
- Charles Ayodeji Adeogun-Phillips
- Okechukwu Kingsley Ajunwa
- Jacob Ocheogbu Ifere
- Emmanuel Aderemi Adekile
- Christopher Ehumadu Okeke
- Oluronke Adeyemi
- Oluwole Olawale Afolabi
- Toboukebide Kekemeke
- Akinbamigbe Adesomoju
- Victor Owarienomare Odjemu
- Josiah Ojochide Daniel-Ebune
- Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun
- Abdulaziz Enebi Ibrahim
- Stanley Chidozie Imo
- Charles Oladipo Titiloye
- Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar
- Kingsley Chuku
- Adeyinka Oluwaseun Aderemi
- Olaolu Akintunde Owolabi
- Adedeji Sharafadeen Abdulkadir
- Idowu Omotunde Benson
- Kolawole James Olowookere
- Chinasa Thelma Unaegbunam
- Ademola Oluwawolemi Esan
- Omosanya Atilola Popoola
- Taiye Ayotunde Oniyide
- Emonye Oga Adekwu
- Aderemi Oguntoye
- Kashopefoluwa Olawale Balogun
- Abdul Adamu
- Theodore Okey Ezeobi
- Rilwan Birnin Kebbi Umar
- Chienye Ifeanyichukwu Okafor
- Kaka Shehu Lawan
- Abba Muhammed
- Wendy Nwenenda Kuku
- Ekele Enyinnaya Iheanacho
- Okechukwu George Edeze
- Akinyemi Oluwole Olujinmi
- Gyang Yaya Zi
- Idris Abubakar
- George Ibrahim
- Boonyameen Babajide Lawal
- Terkaa Jeremiah Aondo
- Tochukwu Peter Tochukwu
- Uchenna Uzo Njoku
- Paul Babatunde Daudu
- Chukwudi Kachikwu Enebeli
- Yusuf F. Olatunji Ogunrinde
- Tobechukwu Kenechukwu Nweke
- Ademola Kamardeen Abimbola
- Yunus Abdulsalam
- Mofesomo Ayodeji Tayo-Oyetibo
- Chukwuemeka Agamadodaigwe Nnawuchi
The successful academic SAN is Prof. Ganiu Oke Adeyemi.