Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), will preside over the official induction of 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on Monday, September 30, 2024. The highly anticipated event will take place at the Supreme Court’s main courtroom in Abuja, commencing at 10:00 AM.
This ceremony will mark Justice Kekere-Ekun’s first induction of SANs since the Nigerian Senate confirmed her as CJN on September 25, 2024. It is part of the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year, during which the CJN will deliver her state-of-the-judiciary address. The speech will reflect on the performance of the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary during the 2023/2024 legal year.
Other prominent speakers at the event will include the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, all of whom will share their perspectives on the state of Nigeria’s judicial system.
The selection process for these 87 SANs began in July 2024 when the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) shortlisted 98 candidates for the coveted title. Following the Committee’s 164th plenary session, chaired by former CJN Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, 87 legal professionals were approved for the prestigious rank.
Becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a highly esteemed milestone in the country’s legal profession. It is awarded to individuals with at least ten years of practice who have demonstrated remarkable skill in advocacy or made significant contributions to legal scholarship.
The Supreme Court resumed operations on September 23, 2024, following its annual vacation, setting the stage for the opening of the legal year and the SAN induction ceremony.
