CJN swears in 62 new SANs

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has swore in 62 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria in Abuja.

Some of the lawyers conferred with the SAN rank on Monday were, Mr Mustapha Ibrahim, Mr Ikani Kanu-Agabi and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission lawyers, Mr Sylvanus Tahir and Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

The CJN urged the new SANs to take on their new status with all sense of responsibility as it required high standards of merit.

He said, “I will like to say that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria comes with immense prestige, dignity and greater responsibilities as well.

“Traditionally, those conferred with the rank automatically become members of the inner bar and revered apostles of the temple of justice. It is an honour no conferee can afford to toy with.

“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee took time to screen and assess all the relevant documents submitted by the applicants before arriving at its decision. I can confidently affirm that the committee has done an excellent job.

“The number of applicants for 2022 Senior Advocate of Nigeria award is 174. Out of this number, 111 are advocates and 63 are academics.

“The total number of qualified applicants after the preliminary screening is 129; comprising of 73 legal practitioners and 56 academics respectively.

“After conducting the specified screening and filtration exercises, the LPPC came up with 62 successful candidates who, by all standards, can be regarded as eminently deserving of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”