Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in 68 legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at a ceremony marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year.
The ceremony took place on Monday, October 12, 2026, at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, bringing together the newly elevated lawyers as they formally assumed one of the highest professional ranks in Nigeria’s legal system.
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) announced the development in a news flash shared on its official social media account on Monday, accompanied by videos and photographs showing the recipients taking their oaths before the Chief Justice.
The new SANs comprise 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, according to the list of successful candidates published after the selection process in July.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), which is responsible for considering applications and recommending eligible lawyers for the rank, approved the 68 candidates at its 174th plenary session held on July 23, 2026, under the chairmanship of Justice Kekere-Ekun.
The official swearing-in ceremony followed the approval, completing the formal process for the successful applicants to receive the prestigious designation.
The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred on legal practitioners who have distinguished themselves through professional competence, integrity, experience and contributions to the development of legal practice or legal education.
It is commonly regarded as the highest professional distinction available to legal practitioners in Nigeria, although its conferment remains subject to the standards and procedures established under the country’s legal framework.
The process is overseen by the LPPC, which evaluates applicants against stipulated criteria before determining those qualified for elevation. The committee is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who also presides over the formal induction of successful candidates.
The newly elevated practitioners are expected to maintain high standards of professional conduct and ethical responsibility in their dealings with clients, courts and other members of the legal profession.
The SAN designation carries considerable professional recognition within Nigeria’s legal community, particularly in advocacy and legal scholarship. However, the rank also comes with expectations that its holders will uphold the integrity of the profession and contribute to the administration of justice.
The commencement of the new legal year provides an opportunity for the judiciary and the legal profession to resume their annual activities and reflect on the administration of justice, the handling of cases and the challenges facing the justice system.
The Supreme Court remains Nigeria’s highest court, with final appellate jurisdiction in civil and criminal matters, subject to constitutional provisions. Its work is central to the interpretation of the Constitution, the resolution of legal disputes and the development of binding legal principles.
The annual legal-year ceremony and the conferment of SAN ranks are significant events in the Nigerian justice system, bringing together judicial officers and members of the Bar to mark the beginning of a new judicial cycle.
The announcement of the swearing-in confirms that the 68 successful candidates have now formally received the rank following the committee’s approval in July.
Further details of the proceedings, including any substantive remarks delivered by the Chief Justice during Monday’s ceremony, were not included in the initial announcement by the NTA.
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