The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) has approved the elevation of 58 lawyers to the Inner Bar.

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Funmi Falana, an Abuja-based lawyer and rights activist, Kayode Ajulo, and 56 other lawyers on Thursday October 12 bagged the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The LPPC under the Chairmanship of Hon. Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola at its 159th session held on Thursday approved the award of the rank for the successful applicants.

Prof. Babatunde Adetunji Oni is the only successful candidate from the academic. Eleven professors were dropped from the final list while none of the shortlisted 57 lawyers were dropped.

The LPPC made the disclosure on Thursday in a statement issued by the Committee’ s secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Hajo Saki Bello.

The new silks are Felix Ota Offia, Lawrence Bankole Falade, Kingsley Osabuohen Obamogie, Folashade Abosede Alli, Abiola Isiaq Oyebanji, Olakunle Agbebi, Daniel Uruakpa and Osekola Godwin Osuigwe.

Also on the list are Babatunde Adeoye, Babaseyi Sigismund Joseph, Kehinde Olufemi Aina, Ngozi Chido Olehi, Aaron Chileokwu Okoroma, Ibrahim Dalhatu Angulu, Olayiwola Emmanuel Afolabi, Sule Shuaibu, Abiodun Olanrewaju Olaleru, Alfred Olufemi Atteh, Bamidele Olawoye Ibironke, Oluwaseyilayo Akinkunmi Ojo, Funmi Falana, Felix Tamaraudenkemefa Okotie and Seun Oluwagbenga Ajayi.

Others are Friday Ramses Onoja, Agada John Elachi, Paul Kasimanwuna Maduemene, Rafiu Oyeyemi Balogun, Oluwole Aladedoye, Paulyn Osobuase Abhulimen, Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Tochukwu Jude Onyiuke, Olukayode Abraham Ajulo and Christopher Adapar Umar.

Also on the list are Chibueze Ogechi Ogbonna, Yemi Adesina, Omoyemi Lateef Akangbe, Olumide Akinwale Olujinmi, Musa Adamu Aliyu, Fidelis Chukwunonye Mbadugha, Onyemaechi Chukwudiadiukwu, Ikechukwu Philip Onuoma, Yakubu Philemon, Johnny Ungwugwaye Again, Aliyu Lenu Ibrahim, Isaiah Bozimo, Prisc Ozoilesike, Yahaya Dan Asabe Dangana, Adedayo Samuel Adedeji, Adeola Oluwaseun Adedipe, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, Musa Ahmed Attah, Ayotunde Foluso Ogunleye and Olayemi Badewole.

Sixty-nine lawyers both from private practice and academic were initially shortlisted for the SANship.

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Out of the twelve professors shortlisted only one made it.

The 11 professors shortlisted as academic applicants but dropped are Prof. John Alewo Agbonika, Prof. Osy Chukwu Chukwunyere Nwebo, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule, Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, Prof. Mohammed Lawal Ahmadu, Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion, Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu, Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke, Prof. Benedicta Lopez Daudu and Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola.

The LPPC said the rank of SAN is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.

“The meeting further considered four different petitions written against some of the Applicants and determined that each of the petition lacked merit and thus dismissed,” Bello said.

“The swearing-in ceremony of the 58 successful Applicants is scheduled to take place on Monday the 27th day of November, 2023,” Bello said.

The Star