LPPC Shortlists 137 Lawyers For SAN Rank

One hundred and thirty-seven (137) Nigerian lawyers have been shortlisted for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The development was confirmed in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, September 24 by the Legal Practitioner’s Privileges Committee.

On the list of the shortlisted candidates are some prominent names; including that of the Former President, Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association, Boma Alabi, former Dean, Faculty of Law of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offence Commission (ICPC), Professor Bolaji Owasonoye, his counterpart at the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mr Anthony Ojukwu and two former National Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe and Isiaka Olagunju.

Naija News understands that the 137 shortlisted names include 116 advocates and 21 academic applicants.

According to the press release signed by the Acting Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki, the shortlisted candidates were those who qualified after both the advocate filtration stages and academic pre-qualification exercise; preparatory to the award of the rank of SAN for the year 2020.

The LPPC noted in the press release that the general public is at liberty to make comment on the integrity, reputation, and competence of the shortlisted candidates.

The notice reads: “The Legal Practitioner’s Privileges Committee by this notice makes an announcement on the shortlisted candidates that qualified after both the advocate filtration stages and academic pre-qualification exercise, preparatory to the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the year 2020.

“All qualified candidates shortlisted are graded under the category system of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Guidelines, 2018.”

“The general public is at liberty to comment on the integrity, reputation, and competence of the candidates. However, any complaint(s) presented to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee must be accompanied with a verifying affidavit deposed to before a court of record in Nigeria. Be informed that in relation to paragraph 12(2) of the “Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee Guidelines, 2018”, 20 copies of such complaints must reach the LPPC office “not later than 4 pm on Tuesday, October 13, 2020.”

Meanwhile, about two weeks ago, some lawyers under the Nigeria Bar Association, have started a petition to strip the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria title.