The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the elevation of 58 senior lawyers to the esteemed rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, S.A.N.
They include constitutional lawyer, Dr Kayode Ajulo, daughter of legal luminary/educationist, Aare Afe Babalola, Mrs. Folashade Abosede Alli, and wife of human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, Mrs. Funmi Falana.
This was revealed in a statement by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki Bello, who said that the Committee, which has the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, as chairman, gave the approval at its 159th plenary session held in Abuja on Thursday.
The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates at the temple of justice, as well as in the academia.
Sixty-nine (69) senior lawyers had earlier been shortlisted for the prestigious award by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee. And while 11 were applicants dropped, petitions written against a few others were thrashed by the LPPC.
The new SANs will be sworn-in by the Chief Justice of the Federation in Abuja on Monday, November 27, 2023.
The new awardees for the year 2023, in order of seniority at the Bar are: Felix Ota Offia, Lawrence Bankole Falade, Kingsley Osabuohien Obamogie, Folashade Abosede Alli, Abiola Isiaq Oyebanji, Bomo Olakunle Agbebi, Daniel Osinach Uruakpa, Oseloka Godwin Osuigwe, Babatunde Adeoye and Babaseyi Sigismund Joseph.
Others are: Emmanuel Moses Enoidem, Kehinde Olufemi Aina, Ngozi Chido Olehi, Aaron Chileokwu Okoroma, Ibrahim Dalhatu Angulu, Olayiwola Emmanuel Afolabi, Sule Shu’aibu, Abiodun Olanrewaju Olaleru, Alfred Olufemi Atteh, Kazeem Adekunle Sobaloju, Shehu Wada Abdullahi, Bamidele Olawoye Ubironke, Oluwaseyilayo Akinkunmi Ojo, Funmi Falana and Felix Tamaraudenkemefa Okorotie.
The list of awardees also include: Seun Oluwagbenga Ajayi, Friday Ramses Aku Onoja, Agada John Elachi, Bola Rasaq Gold, Paul Kasimanwuna Maduemene, Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun, Oluwole Aladedoye, Paulyn Osobhase Abhulimen, Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Tochukwu Jude Onyiuke, Christopher Adapar Umar, Chibueze Ogechi Ogbonna, Yemi Adewale M’sbaudeen Adesina, Omoyemi Lateef Akangbe, Olumide Akinwale Olujinmi, Musaadamu Aliyu, Fidelis Chukwunonye Mbadugha Onyemaechi Chukwudi Adiukwu and Ikechukwu Philip Onuoma.
The rest are: Yakubu Philimon, Johnny Ungwugwaye Agim, Aliyu Lemu Ibrahim, Isaiah Bozimo, Prisca Ozoilesike, Yahaya Dan’asabe Dangana, Adedayo Samuel Adedeji, Adeola Oluwaseun Adedipe, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, Musa Ahmed Attah, Ayotunde Foluso Ogunleye, Olayemi Badewole and the lone successful academic applicant, Prof Babatunde Adetunji Oni.