From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, will on November 11 swear-in 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) as part of the programmes lined up for the 2023/2024 Legal Year of the court.
The elevation of the 58 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of SAN was approved by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).
The LPPC, under the Chairmanship of Ariwoola, took the decision at its 159th plenary on October 12, 2023, in Abuja.
Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and LPPC Secretary, Hajo Sarki Bello, said the new SANs were appointed as a mark of excellence for distinguished advocacy and academic contributions to legal practice.
Besides the inauguration of the new silk, the CJN will deliver an address that would highlight the performance of the Supreme Court in particular and the Nigerian judiciary in general in the 2022/2023 Legal Year.
In a statement in Abuja, yesterday, Director of Press and Information of the apex court, Akande Festus, said other leading stakeholders in the justice sector will present speeches bordering on the state of the justice sector of the country on the occasion.
They include the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, chairman of Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
A total of 114 applications were received by LPPC for the award of SAN in 2023.
The number represent 101 from practicing lawyers and 13 from the academics.
The total number of qualified applicants shortlisted after the Advocates 1st and 2nd filtration stages, academic pre-qualification, academic 2nd filtration exercise, the independent appeals hearing and chambers inspection exercises was 69 comprising 57 advocates and 12 academics.
After conducting the specified screening and filtration exercises which include a number of appearances in superior courts, recommendations by justices of the Supreme Court and judges of superior courts, chamber inspections; approval on eligibility and integrity of the candidates from NBA, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the public, among others, the LPPC came up with 58 successful candidates.
With the latest elevations, Nigeria now has 681 senior advocates, since the rank was first introduced in 1975.
The SAN rank aims to recognise experienced legal practitioners who have excelled in advocacy, and made significant contributions to the development of law in Nigeria.
The Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation on Monday, 24th July, 2023.
Though the Court had started sitting since Monday, September 18, 2023, the new legal year ceremony is to be formally held in accordance with its tradition.
All the programmes outlined to mark the formal commencement of the new legal year will start at 10 am in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.