The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has shortlisted a total of 57 candidates for consideration for the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Among those shortlisted are 56 legal practitioners and one academic, as stated in a statement released on Thursday in Abuja and authored by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Akanbi.
The statement noted that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at the 169th Plenary Session held on Thursday, July 24, 2025, approved the elevation of the 57 candidates to the esteemed rank.
The SAN rank is conferred as a mark of professional excellence on legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction, either as courtroom advocates or as academics who have made significant contributions to legal scholarship.
During the session, the Committee also considered three petitions submitted against certain applicants.
Upon thorough review, all the petitions were found to be without merit and were accordingly dismissed, the statement revealed.
In line with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, all shortlisted SAN candidates are required to attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme, which is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the rank.
The statement added, “In line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, all shortlisted conferees must refrain from publishing or encouraging the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices relating to their nomination or conferment.
“Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated.”
The Swearing-In Ceremony for the 57 successful candidates is scheduled to hold on Monday, 29 September 2025.
The statement also listed the names of the shortlisted Senior Advocate-designates for the 2025 conferment exercise, in order of seniority at the Bar, as follows:
Theophilus Esan, Fedude Zimughan, Ernest Ikeji, Victor Esiriakpoguma, Leslie Njemanze, Akintunde Adewale, Preye Agedah, Omamuzo Erebe, Hannibal Uwaifo, Olumide Ekisola, George Ukaegbu, Oromena Ajakpovi, Tairu Adebayo, Bawa Ibrahim, Suleh Umar, Emeka Akabogu, Godwin Ogboji, Godwin Idiagbonya, Adeolu Salako, and Adetunji Oso.
Others include: Achinike William-Wobodo, Shuaib Mustapha, Adizua Okoroafor, Olanrewaju Akinsola, Amaechi Iteshi, Adakole Inegede, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, David Ogebe, Aminu Gadanya, Oluseun Adeniyi, Ikechukwu Uwanna, Ayodeji Ademola, Kelechi Nwaiwu, Lawal Hudu, Ibim Dokubo, Luka Abubakar Musa, Shakeer Oshodi, Oluwole Jimi-Bada, Mubarak Adekilekun, and Chinyere Ekene Moneme.
The remaining candidates are: Shuaibu Labaran, Kingsley Udeh, Augustine Audu, Ali Zubairu, Adeyemi Pitan, Habeeb Oredola, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Victor Agunzi, Nkwegu Ogbagaegwu, Bidemi Ademola-Bello, Temilolu Femiadamolekun, Abdulkarim Maude, Adedayo Adesina, Usman Zaiyanu, Taiwo Hassan, Olufemi Oyewole, and the only successful academic applicant – Professor Chima Ubanyionwu.
