The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, is scheduled to administer the oath of office to 58 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Monday, November 27, 2023, in the main Courtroom of the Supreme Court. This ceremony is part of the events planned for the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year of the Court.
Following a time-honored tradition, the CJN will deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address during a special court session. This address will illuminate the performance of the Apex Court and the overall Nigerian Judiciary during the 2022/2023 legal year. The Director of Press and Information of the Apex Court, Dr. Akande Festus, shared this information in a press statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
The event will also feature speeches from key stakeholders in the Justice Sector, including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others.
Notably, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) received a total of 114 applications for the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2023. Among these, 101 applicants are advocates, while 13 are 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 the Nigerian Bar Association, Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the general public, amongst others, the LPPC came up with 58 successful candidates.
Out of the figure, 57 are advocates while one is an academic.