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The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in 68 legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at a ceremony marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year.
The ceremony took place on Monday at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, with the newly elevated lawyers taking their oaths before the head of Nigeria’s judiciary.
The elevation of the 68 legal practitioners followed the approval of their applications by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), which is chaired by the CJN. Blueprint reports
The new recipients comprise 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, whose inclusion recognises contributions to legal scholarship.
68 lawyers join the Inner Bar
The conferment of the SAN rank represents one of the highest professional distinctions available to legal practitioners in Nigeria.
The honour is reserved for lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional distinction in advocacy or made significant contributions to legal scholarship and the development of the profession.
The newly sworn-in Senior Advocates were selected following an assessment process conducted by the LPPC, which considers applicants’ professional records and their contributions to the legal system.
Their elevation formally admits them into the Inner Bar, distinguishing them from other members of the legal profession and placing additional expectations on them regarding professional conduct and the administration of justice.
The 2026 list includes practitioners from different areas of legal practice, including courtroom advocacy, public service and legal academia.
Among the prominent recipients is Kwara State Attorney-General, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim. Other notable names on the list include former Nigerian Bar Association spokesperson Akorede Habeeb Lawal and former NBA Lagos Branch chairman Alexander Nduka Muoka.
The sole academic recipient, Professor Obiaraeri, was recognised under the academic category, which accommodates individuals whose contributions to legal scholarship meet the prescribed standards.
LPPC approves recipients after screening
The LPPC approved the 68 successful applicants during its 174th plenary session held on July 23, 2026, under the chairmanship of Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The decision followed a screening process in which candidates were assessed for eligibility and professional distinction.
The committee had earlier shortlisted 89 candidates, comprising 77 applicants in the advocate category and 12 in the academic category.
Following the assessment, 67 advocates and one academic were approved for elevation.
The committee subsequently directed the successful applicants to participate in a mandatory pre-swearing-in induction programme organised in accordance with the relevant professional requirements.
Participation in the programme was a prerequisite for the formal conferment of the rank.
The LPPC also reminded prospective recipients of the professional restrictions governing publicity surrounding the conferment. It warned against publishing or encouraging congratulatory advertisements, goodwill messages or notices relating to their nomination or elevation, in line with the applicable Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023.
The committee cautioned that violations could attract sanctions under the relevant professional and ethical provisions.
Women, public officers feature on list
The 2026 list includes four women, reflecting the participation of female practitioners in the legal profession’s highest ranks.
They are Soibi Ideriah Ovia, Igonikan Abiola Adekunle, Olujoke Enitan Aliu and Olamide Mojogbotoluwa Adekunle.
The list also features lawyers who have served in public institutions and professional associations, highlighting the range of backgrounds represented among the recipients.
The inclusion of a serving state attorney-general also underscores the presence of public-sector legal practitioners among those elevated to the rank.
The distinction, however, carries responsibilities beyond professional recognition. Senior Advocates are expected to uphold the integrity of the legal profession, maintain high standards of advocacy and contribute to the development of jurisprudence.
Their role in court proceedings, legal interpretation and the mentoring of younger practitioners places them in an influential position within Nigeria’s justice system.
Swearing-in coincides with new legal year
The ceremony also coincided with the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year, an important event in the calendar of Nigeria’s judiciary.
The opening of a new legal year provides an opportunity for the judiciary and the wider legal community to reflect on the administration of justice, professional standards and the challenges confronting the courts.
The Supreme Court remains the highest judicial authority in Nigeria, with responsibility for determining appeals in accordance with the Constitution and applicable laws.
The annual legal year ceremony brings together members of the judiciary, senior legal practitioners and other stakeholders in the justice sector.
The formal admission of the new SANs adds another dimension to the occasion, as the recipients begin a new phase of their professional careers with the responsibilities attached to the prestigious rank.
Expectations for the new Senior Advocates
The new Senior Advocates are expected to uphold professional integrity, promote respect for the rule of law and contribute to strengthening public confidence in the justice system.
Their responsibilities also include maintaining ethical standards in legal practice and supporting the development of younger lawyers through mentorship and professional engagement.
As members of the Inner Bar, they are expected to demonstrate the standards of excellence that underpin the conferment of the rank.
The latest elevation brings the 68 recipients into a distinguished group of legal practitioners whose work is expected to contribute to advocacy, legal scholarship and the administration of justice in Nigeria.
The ceremony formally concluded the process that began with the LPPC’s screening and approval of the successful applicants, ushering the new SANs into their elevated professional status as the 2026/2027 legal year begins.
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