The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will conduct the official induction of 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) on Monday, September 30, 2024.
Naijaonpoint reports that this significant ceremony, which is part of the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year, will be held in the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.
According to a statement from the Director of Information at the Supreme Court, Dr. Festus Akande, the event will commence at 10:00 AM.
It will be Justice Kekere-Ekun’s first official ceremony of this nature since her confirmation as CJN by the Nigerian Senate on September 25, 2024.
The Supreme Court, which resumed from its annual break on September 23, is set to mark the legal year with a special court session.
During the session, the CJN will deliver her state-of-the-judiciary address, which will review the performance of the Supreme Court and the wider judiciary during the 2023/2024 legal year.
In addition to the CJN’s address, other notable figures 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, and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, are expected to deliver speeches on the current state of Nigeria’s judicial system.
The process of elevating these legal professionals to SAN status began in July 2024 when the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) released the names of 98 lawyers under consideration for the prestigious title.
Following a rigorous selection process, 87 of the candidates were approved for the SAN rank during the 164th plenary session chaired by former CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The SAN rank is a highly respected title in Nigeria’s legal profession, awarded to legal practitioners with at least ten years of standing who have demonstrated exceptional expertise in courtroom advocacy or legal scholarship.