LPPC gives nod to Adaralegbe, Mouka, Obiaraeri, and 65 other lawyers for Senior Advocate of Nigeria designation

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The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has approved the elevation of 68 legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

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The decision was taken at the LPPC’s 174th plenary session held on Thursday, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

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The only successful academic applicant is Prof Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.

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Among the successful advocate-appointees are Adebayo Adaralegbe, Adenrele Adegborioye, Alexander Nduka Muoka, Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe, Jimson Ejovi Okodaso, Olalekan Lawrence Bade John, Olaotan Thomas Olusegun, Philemeon Audu Daffi, James Eromosele Agbonhese, Onome Okodiya, Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye, and 54 others listed in order of seniority at the Bar.

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Others are Ikhide Ehighelua, Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe, Ogunmuyiwa Olayinka Balogun, Anthony Auditz Iroagalachi, Mohammed Tajudeen Mohammed, Odion Peter Odia, Gbemiga Adaramola, Moses Okoh Onyilokwu, Charles Azubuike Obodozie,

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Hakeem Obafemi Agaba, Bimbo Felix Atilola, Okechukwu Steve Emelieze, Joshua Demilade Olaniyan, Igonikon Abiola Adekunle,

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Christian Nnadozie Nwokorie, and Sadiku Momoh Ilegieuno.

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Also on the list are Sarafa Kolawole Idowu, Olujoke Enitan Alius, Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie, Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi,

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Faruk Abdullah, Sagir Gezawa Suleiman, Ifeanyi Godwin Ezeuko, Sabiu Gumba Adamu, Eric Keme-Egolukumor Omare, Soibi Ideriah Ovia, Somina Peter Johnbull,

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Chinedum Ikenna Umeche, Emmanuel Eghiegba Ekhasemomhe, Mohammed El-Hassan Sheriff, Junaidu Bello Marshall, Olawale Sunday Fapohunda, Adebiyi Alaba Adetosoye, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim and Agba Eimunjeze.

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Others approved for SAN rank are Ayobamidele Oyekunle Akande,

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Adetunji Taiwo Adedoyin Adeniyi, Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Adekunle, Umaru Yunusa, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, Darlington Nnabuike Ozurumba, Nnaemeka Francis Patrick Egonu, Kayode Orire Omosehin, Mitchel Akinrinsola Aribisala, Bolu Agbaje Akadri, Oluwaseun Asimiyu Alao, Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala, Mustapha Olayinka Ajenifuja, Afees Hassan Adebayo, Mohammed Abiodun Adelodun, Jonathan Akintola Makinde and Olajide Salami.

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In a statement issued on Thursday by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Akanbi, the committee said the rank of SAN is conferred on legal practitioners who have demonstrated “exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.”

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The LPPC disclosed that all shortlisted candidates are required to attend and complete the mandatory pre-swearing-in induction programme before they can be formally conferred with the rank.

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It said the date for the induction programme would be communicated in due course.

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The committee also warned the successful applicants against publishing or encouraging the publication of congratulatory messages, advertisements or goodwill notices relating to their nomination or conferment.

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“Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated,” the statement read.

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According to the LPPC, the directive is in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023.

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It cautioned that any violation of the provisions could attract sanctions for breaches of the applicable statutory and ethical rules.

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The committee further announced that the swearing-in ceremony for the 68 successful applicants will take place on October 12, 2026.

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Adaralegbe, among the successful applicants, is a legal practitioner, academic and internationally recognised expert in energy law, arbitration and international investment law, currently serves as the Lead Partner of NINEWELLS Law Practice, a position he assumed in November 2025, after spending over 26 years at Babalakin & Co. Legal Practitioners, where he rose to become Partner and Head of the firm’s Energy and Extractive Group.

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The only successful academic applicant is Prof Obiaraeri, a distinguished Professor of International Law and Jurisprudence at Imo State University.

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The SAN rank, the highest distinction in the legal profession for advocates and academics, is conferred by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee established under the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

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The LPPC is also empowered under the Act and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines to regulate the conferment of the rank and discipline holders found to have breached the code of conduct or the conditions attached to the prestigious title, including suspending or withdrawing the privilege where necessary.

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The PUNCH reports that in 2025, the committee conferred the title on 87 lawyers, comprising 86 advocates and one academic, following the 2024 exercise.

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