After Months Of Controversy...30 SANs Emerges!

After several months of controversy over the appointment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, yesterday conferred on 30 lawyers the rank of SAN, following an agreement between registered trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Aloysius Katsina-Alu who settled their differences over the appointment
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The NBA had dragged Katsina-Alu and others to court over the appointment. But at the last sitting, counsel to both parties informed the court, presided over by Gabriel Kolawole, that they have agreed to settle the matter out of court.
Part of the agreement was that the plaintiff will submit to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee her confidential references on the applicants for the appointment to the rank of senior advocates of Nigeria on or before June 7th and the committee will receive and consider the said references.
Furthermore, that the committee will consider representations from adversely affected applicants in the appeal process in accordance with the guidelines, and will decide on whether or not to proceed with their application. Thereafter, the award can be made any time from June 21 upwards.
The new SANs
But announcing the appointment yesterday, the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Sunday Olorundahunsi, said 15 lawyers were conferred with the rank in 2010, while another 15 were conffered with the rank for this year, bringing the number to thirty.
Those on the 2010 list of Senior Advocates of Nigeria include Pat Onegbedan, Isaac Nwazue Uioma, Agatha Obiozo Mbamali, Dan Ose Okoh, Kenneth Ekene Mozia, Yahaya Mahmood, Ferdinad Oshioke Orbih, Olanrewaju Ayodele Ogunlesi, Anthonia Titilola Akinlawon, Oluwemimo Adepoju Revell Ogunde, Imran Oluwole Smith,
Ikechuckwu Ezechukwu, Okechuckwu Amechi, Nnadi Jude Ositadinma and Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko.
Those on the 2011 list, according to Mr Olorundahunsi, include Faye Dikio, Garba Shamtu Pwul, Granville Isetima Abibo, Samuel Tomi Ologunorisa, Hassan Muhammad Liman, Babatunde Adekunle Aiku, Peter Terkaa Akper, Adesegun Muhammed Ajibola, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, Okon Nkanu Efut, David Oghenovo Ezaga, James Uko Kalu Igwe, Norrison Ibinabo Quakers, Jibrin Samuel Okutepa and Solomon Eyibio Umoh.
The NBA had argued that although the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is an important institution in the legal profession of Nigeria, over the years there have been complaints of lowering of standards, abuse of process and outright corruption of the selection process and this has led to a large section of Bar calling for its total abolition.
Majority of legal practitioners however think the process of appointment should be reformed.

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