Sixty-eight legal practitioners have been elevated to Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a coveted and prestigious rank in the nation’s judicial system.
The decorated and illustrious lawyers were sworn in as SANs by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at the 2026/2027 Legal Year ceremony on Monday.
The swearing-in follows the approval of the Committee of Privileges of the National Judicial Council of Nigeria (NJC) of the 68 nominees months ago.
The committee approved their promotion during its 174th plenary session, chaired by Kekere-Ekun
The swearing-in was announced by the state-owned media outlet, the Nigerian Television Authority, on its official X handle on Monday, sharing images and a video from the ceremony.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Eniola, the new SANs comprise 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.
Obiaraeri was recognised for his “contributions to legal scholarship, making him the only academic among the 68 recipients.”
The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is one of the highest professional distinctions in the country’s legal sector.
It is conferred on legal practitioners who meet the required standards of professional achievement in advocacy or legal scholarship.
Before the conferment, the LPPC “stipulated that successful applicants must participate in and complete a mandatory induction programme, with the date to be announced later.”
The committee also reminded the newly elevated SANs to comply with paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023.
It warned against “publishing or encouraging advertisements, congratulatory messages or goodwill notices concerning their nomination or conferment, adding that violations could attract sanctions
