Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Solicitor-General of the Federation (SGF) and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice Adedayo Apata and 37 others have been elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Other beneficiaries of the title as announced by the Chief Registrar of Supreme Court and Legal Practitioners’ Committee, Hadizatu Mustapha, include Lagos lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, who is the wife of a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.
Mustapha said a total of 38 lawyers was elevated by the LPPC at the committee’s 138th plenary session held on Thursday.
The successful candidates according to her, were selected from 117 applicants for the rank, are to be sworn in at the ceremony marking the forthcoming new 2019/2020 legal year of the apex court which will hold in September.
Others include, Abdullahi Haruna, Manga Nuruddeen, John Asoluka, Adedokun Makinde, Daniel Enwelum, Emmanuel Oyebanji, Tuduru Ede, Abdul Ajana, Ama Etuwewe, Oladipo Olasope, Leslie Olutayo Nylander, Olusegun Fowowe and Andrew Hutton.
They also include, Olukayode Enitan, Paul Ogbole, Olaniyi Olopade, Samuel Agweh, Olusegun Jolaawo, Prof. Alphonsus Alubo, Ayo Asala, Abiodun Olatunji, Olumide Aju, Chimezie Ihekweazu, Prof. Mamman Lawan, Prof. Uchefula Chukwumaeze, Usman Sule, Safiya Badamasi, and Echezona Etiaba.
The rest are Godwin Omoaka, Emeka Ozoani, Alexander Ejesieme, Jephthah Njikonye, Aikhunegbe Malik, Alhassan Umar and Oyetola Muyiwa.
While announcing the list on Friday, the Supreme Court’s chief registrar said four of the 117 applicants were females, among whom two were successful.
Of the 38 successful candidates, three of them are of the academic category while the rest of them are of advocacy.
Mustapha said: “The rank (SAN), is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.
The swearing-in ceremony of the 38 legal practitioners will take place during the 2019/2020 new legal year of the Supreme Court scheduled for September 2019.”