The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the elevation of 68 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) following its 174th Plenary Session held on 23 July 2026.
The announcement was made in an official press release issued by the LPPC under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON. The successful applicants comprise 67 advocates and one academic, reflecting the Committee’s continued recognition of excellence in both legal practice and legal scholarship.
The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria remains the highest professional distinction conferred on members of the Nigerian legal profession. It is awarded to legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional advocacy before the courts or made significant contributions to legal education and scholarship.
Mandatory Induction Before Conferment
The LPPC reiterated that, in accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all successful applicants must attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme. Participation in the induction is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the rank.
The Committee also reminded successful applicants of their ethical obligations under Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023. Prospective SANs are prohibited from publishing or encouraging the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices relating to their nomination or conferment. The LPPC warned that violations of these provisions may attract appropriate sanctions.
Swearing-In Ceremony
The formal swearing-in ceremony for the successful applicants has been scheduled for Monday, 12 October 2026.
Highlights of the 2026 SAN Conferment
- Total successful applicants: 68
- Advocates elevated: 67
- Academic elevated: 1
- Date of LPPC approval: 23 July 2026
- Swearing-in ceremony: 12 October 2026
- The sole successful academic applicant for the 2026 conferment is Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, whose elevation recognizes his outstanding contribution to legal scholarship and academia.
The 2026 conferment continues the LPPC’s longstanding tradition of recognizing legal practitioners whose professional achievements, integrity, advocacy, and contributions to the development of the legal profession meet the exacting standards required for appointment as Senior Advocates of Nigeria.