The elevation of 68 legal practitioners to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has marked a major development in the country’s legal profession, with 67 advocates and one academic receiving the prestigious title at the opening ceremony of the 2026/2027 legal year.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, administered the oath to the new Senior Advocates on Monday, October 12, 2026, during a special session at the Supreme Court in Abuja.
The appointments followed the approval of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee at its 174th plenary session held in Abuja in July. The new recipients were listed according to their seniority at the Bar, while Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri received the academic appointment.
The SAN rank is one of the highest professional distinctions in Nigeria’s legal sector. The elevation recognises outstanding contributions to legal practice and, in the case of academic appointees, legal scholarship.
The full list of the 68 newly sworn-in Senior Advocates of Nigeria is presented below, in order of seniority at the Bar.
FULL LIST OF THE 68 NEW SENIOR ADVOCATES OF NIGERIA
- Ibrahim Gamdeh Adamu
- Jude Chukwuemeka Okafor
- Godwill Achibong Umoh
- Sunday Samuel Obende
- Adebayo Olugbenga Adaralegbe
- Jimson Ejovi Okodaso
- Olalekan Lawrence Bade-John
- Olaotan Thomas Olusegun
- Philemeon Audu Daffi
- Adenrele David Adegborioye
- James Eromosele Agbonhese
- Alexander Nduka Muoka
- Onome Okodiya
- Emmanuel Akunke Akomaye
- 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
- Hakeem Obafemi Agaba
- Bimbo Felix Atilola
- Okechukwu Steve Emelieze
- Joshua Demilade Olaniyan
- Igonikon Abiola Adekunle
- Christian Nnadozie Nwokorie
- Sadiku Momoh Ilegieuno
- Sarafa Kolawole Idowu
- Olujoke Enitan Aliu
- Oliver Onyenucheya Amuzie
- Adebisi Emmanuel Adeniyi
- Faruk Abdullah
- Sagir Gezawa Suleiman
- Ifeanyi Godwin Ezeuko
- Adebayo Folorunsho Ologe
- Sabiu Gumba Adamu
- Eric Keme-Egolukumor Omare
- Soibi Ideriah Ovia
- Somina Peter Johnbull
- Chinedum Ikenna Umeche
- Emmanuel Eghiegba Ekhasemomhe
- Mohammed El-Hassan Sheriff
- Junaidu Bello Marshall
- Olawale Sunday Fapohunda
- Adebiyi Alaba Adetoboye
- Senior Sulyman Ibrahim
- Agba Eimunjeze
- Ayobamidele Oyekunle Akande
- Adetunji Taiwo Adedoyin Adeniyi
- Olamide Moigbotoluwa 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
- Olajide Salami
- Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri
The latest appointments bring fresh recognition to the recipients’ careers and professional contributions, while adding a new group of senior practitioners to Nigeria’s legal community as the 2026/2027 legal year begins.