The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has approved the elevation of 68 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, comprising 67 advocates and one academic.
The decision was taken at the committee’s 174th plenary session held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun.
In a press release signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Eniola Akanbi, the committee said the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as a mark of professional excellence on legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates before the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.
The LPPC stated that, in accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, all prospective SAN conferees must attend and successfully complete a pre-swearing-in induction programme.
It explained that participation in the programme is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the rank, adding that the date of the induction would be communicated to the successful applicants in due course.
The committee also warned the prospective conferees against publishing or encouraging the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages or goodwill notices relating to their nomination or conferment.
It said the restriction was in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, warning that any breach could attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules.
The swearing-in ceremony for the 68 successful applicants has been scheduled to hold on Monday, October 12, 2026.
The 67 successful advocate appointees, listed in order of seniority at the Bar, are Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu; Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor; Godwill Achibong Umoh; Sunday Samuel Obende; Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe; Jimson Ejoyi Okodaso; Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John; Olaotan Thomas Olusegun; Philemon Audu Dafe; Adenrele David Adegborioye; James Eromosele Agbonhese; Alexander Nduka Muoka; Onome Okodiya; Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye; Ikhide Ehighelua; Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe; Ogunmuyiwa Olayinka Balogun; Anthony Auditz Iroagalachi; Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed; and Odion Peter Odia.
Others are Gbemiga Adaramola; Moses Okoh Onyilokwu; Charles Azubuike Obodozie; Hakeem Obafemi Agaba; Bimbo Felix Atilola; Okechukwu Steve Emelieze; Joshua Demilade Olaniyan; Igonikon Abiola Adekunle; Christian Nnadozie Nwokorie; Sadiku Momoh Ilegieuno; Sarafa Kolawole Idowu; Olujoke Enitan Alius; Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie; Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi; Faruk Abdullah; Sagir Gezawa Suleiman; Ifeanyi Godwin Ezeuko; Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe; Sabiu Gumba Adamu; Eric Keme-Egolukomor Omare; Soibi Ideriah Ovia; Somina Peter Johnbull; Chinedum Ikenna Umeche; Emmanuel Eghiegba Ekhasemomhe; Mohammed El-Hassan Sheriff; Junaidu Bello Marshall; Olawale Sunday Fapohunda; Adebiyi Alaba Adetosoye; Senior Sulyman Ibrahim; and Agba Eimunjeze.
The remaining advocate appointees are Ayobamidele Oyekunle Akande; Adetunji Taiwo Adedoyin Adeniyi; Olamide Motololuwa Adekunle; Umaru Yunusa; Akorede Habeeb Lawal; Darlington Nnabuike Ozurumba; Nnaemeka Francis Patrick Egonu; Kayode Orire Omosehin; Mitchel Akinrinsola Aribisala; Bolu Agbaje Akadri; Oluwaseun Asimiyu Alao; Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala; Mustapha Olayinka Ajenifuja; Afees Hassan Adebayo; Mohammed Abiodun Adelodun; Jonathan Akintola Makinde; and Olajide Salami.
Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiareri was named as the sole successful academic applicant for the 2026 conferment exercise.
