Supreme Court: CJN Swear In 57 Lawyers As Senior Advocate Of Nigeria

 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday swore in 57 distinguished legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) during a special session of the Supreme Court in Abuja to mark the commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year. The ceremony, steeped in tradition and prestige, underscored the weight of responsibility that comes with the rank of SAN, the highest honour available to lawyers in Nigeria’s legal profession. Speaking at the event, Justice Kekere-Ekun described the conferment as a moment of “solemn reflection and renewed commitment to the noble calling of justice.” She reminded the new SANs that the rank is not a trophy of status but a privilege tied to service, dignity, and responsibility.

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According to her, any abuse of the rank would not be tolerated, as the title could be withdrawn in cases of misconduct. “This occasion is not merely a celebration of time passing, but a call to take stock, reflect on our challenges and achievements, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of justice, fairness, and service to the Nigerian people,” the CJN emphasized.

The CJN also used the platform to pay heartfelt tribute to eminent jurists who passed away in the past legal year, including former Chief Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais and three retired Supreme Court justices. She praised their legacies of “unwavering commitment to justice” and extended condolences to their families, while also honouring the memories of judicial staff lost during the year.

Highlighting the progress recorded within the judiciary, Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke on reforms that had been implemented to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and public trust. She announced that all pending petitions before the National Judicial Council (NJC) were resolved, with errant judges sanctioned where necessary, and those unjustly accused exonerated. A serial frivolous petitioner was barred from filing further petitions, while errant lawyers were referred to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

She further revealed that case management had been streamlined through digitization, with a new Court Records Processing Unit established to minimize the issue of missing files. To improve access to justice, the judiciary had also set up a Central Information Unit and a Case Continuation Unit, allowing litigants and lawyers to track case progress with ease.

The Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) is now set for nationwide rollout, enabling e-filing of appeals and reducing delays caused by physical processes. The Supreme Court’s Notary Public Unit has also been fully automated with an Electronic Notary Register (ENR), which ensures centralized tracking of certified Notaries across the country.

On staff welfare, Justice Kekere-Ekun disclosed that judicial salaries and allowances were paid promptly, welfare packages improved, and constructive engagements with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) helped prevent strike actions that often cripple court operations. She also revealed that during the last legal year, the Supreme Court heard 2,280 matters, including 560 appeals, and delivered 369 judgments — a significant increase compared to the previous year’s 247.

In her address on anti-corruption, she noted that the judiciary, through the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO), continued to collaborate with agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC. In 2025 alone, the EFCC secured 1,417 convictions, while the ICPC initiated 43 new cases and secured nine convictions, signaling progress in Nigeria’s anti-graft fight.

Among those elevated to the prestigious SAN rank was Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina, a reform-minded legal practitioner and co-founder of Oyewole & Adesina. Adedayo, born in Kano to the late Engr. Gbadebo Timothy Adesina and Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwatoyin Adesina, hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State. He graduated top of his class from the University of Jos in 2008, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009, and later obtained an LL.M. in Banking and Finance Law from the University of London. Over a 15-year career, he worked with leading firms such as Dele Olaniyan & Co., Templars, and Wole Olanipekun & Co. before co-founding his own firm, Oyewole & Adesina, where he serves as Managing Partner.

Adedayo has also played a critical role in national reform initiatives under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), contributing to the drafting of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (the Omnibus Bill) and developing Practice Directions for Small Claims Courts across several states. These reforms have improved commercial dispute resolution and access to justice, solidifying his reputation as a forward-thinking lawyer.

Other notable inductees included Shuaibu Labaran, Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government and former federal prosecutor; Olanrewaju Tasleem Akinsola, a commercial litigation and tax advisory expert who also curates the popular Onigegewura legal history blog; and Preye Agedah, a former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice.

The list also featured other accomplished lawyers such as Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Ernest Chikwendu Ikeji, Akintunde Wilson Adewale, Omamuzo Erebe, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Emeka Akabogu, Adizua Chu-Chu Okoroafor, and Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, among others. In the academic category, Professor Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu was honoured with the SAN title, a recognition of his contributions to legal scholarship.

Senior Advocates of Nigeria enjoy exclusive privileges in courtrooms, including reserved front-row seating, priority in case listings, and the distinguished silk robes that set them apart from their peers, hence the popular nickname “silks.”

The conferment of SAN is widely regarded as the pinnacle of legal achievement in Nigeria, reserved for practitioners and academics who have demonstrated exceptional skill, integrity, and contribution to the advancement of law and justice. Justice Kekere-Ekun’s words of caution, however, served as a reminder that the rank is not just an accolade but a solemn responsibility.

By swearing in this new class of Senior Advocates, the CJN reaffirmed the judiciary’s commitment to excellence and to building a legal system that upholds the ideals of justice, fairness, and service to the Nigerian people. The ceremony also highlighted the continuous evolution of the Nigerian judiciary, blending tradition with innovation as it adapts to modern challenges while preserving the values that define the profession.

Those sworn in include:

1. Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Esq.

2. Fedude Zimughan, Esq.

3. Ernest Chikwendu Ikeji, Esq.

4. Victor Esiri Aapoguma, Esq.

5. Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, Esq.

6. Akintunde Wilson Adewale, Esq.

7. Preye Agedah, Esq.

8. Omamuzo Erebe, Esq.

9. Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Esq.

10. Olumide Ekisola, Esq.

11. George Ejie Ukaegbu, Esq.

12. Oromena Justice Ajakpovi, Esq.

13. Tairu Adebayo, Esq.

14. Bawa Akhimie Osali Ibrahim, Esq.

15. Suleh Umar, Esq.

16. Emeka Akabogu, Esq.

17. Godwin Sunday Ogboili, Esq.

18. Godwin Aimuagbonrie Idiagbonya, Esq.

19. Adeolu Olusegun Salako, Esq.

20. Adetunji Oso, Esq.

21. Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo, Esq.

22. Shuaib Agbarere Mustapha, Esq.

23. Adizua Chu-Chu Okoroafor, Esq.

24. Olanrewaju Tasleem Akinsola, Esq.

25. Amaechi Fidelis Iteshi, Esq.

26. Adakole Edwin Inegbedu, Esq.

27. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, Esq.

28. David Ogenyi Ogebe, Esq.

29. Aminu Sani Gadanya, Esq.

30. Oluseun Awonuga Adeniyi, Esq.

31. Ikechukwu Raphael Uwanna, Esq.

32. Ayodeji Joseph Ademola, Esq.

33. Kelechi Nwaiwu, Esq.

34. Lawal Garba Hudu, Esq.

35. Ibim Simeon Dokubo, Esq.

36. Luka Abubakar Haruna Musa, Esq.

37. Shakeer Adedayo Oshodi, Esq.

38. Oluwole Tolulope Jimi-Bada, Esq.

39. Mubarak Tijani Adekilekun, Esq.

40. Chinyere Ekenna Moneme, Esq.

41. Shuaibu Magaji Labaran, Esq.

42. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Esq.

43. Augustine Enenche Audu, Esq.

44. Ali Dussah Zubairu, Esq.

45. Adeyemi Adebambo Pitan, Esq.

46. Habeeb Abdulrahman Oredola, Esq.

47. Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Esq.

48. Victor Agunzi, Esq.

49. Nkwegu Luke Ogbagaegwu, Esq.

50. Bidemi Ifedunni Ademola-Bello, Esq.

51. Temilolu Femi Adamolekun, Esq.

52. Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, Esq.

53. Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina, Esq.

54. Usman Yusuf Zaiyanu, Esq.

55. Taiwo Azeez Hassan, Esq.

56. Olufemi Olubunmi Oyewole, Esq.

Academic category

1. Professor Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu