The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, (LPPC), has shortlisted 98 Nigerian lawyers comprising professors of law for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.
Among the names shortlisted are former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, National Officers, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Kunle Edun, Dr. Rapulu Nduka and Stanley Imo.
Also shortlisted is the Chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, Paul Daudu and notable Abuja-based senior lawyer, Okey Ajunwa.
A statement by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, who also doubles as LPPC Secretary, Hajo Sarki Bello indicated that the shortlisted candidates are in two categories of advocate and academic.
The statement reads, “The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) by this notice announces the shortlisting of applicants for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria for the year 2024.
“The advocates known as practising legal practitioners have the largest chunk of 87 candidates while the academics who are law lecturers have only 11 candidates.
The advocates are Lateef Olaseinde Karim, Godwin Tagbo Ike, Johnson Odionu, Nnodim Marcellinus Duru, Innocent Adams Ovbagbedia, Soronnadi Anthony Njoku, Adamu Abubakar, Charles Oyaole Musa, Udochi Nunny Iheanacho, David Dare Onietan and Elele Chinatu Casmir.
“Others are Josiah Rapuluchuks Nduka, Godwin Ikechukwu Obeta, Habeeb Orisavia Ilavbare, Moses Kolade Obafemi, Mathew Echezonam Esonanjor, Baba Fika Dalah, Babatunde Ademoye Sodipo, Mustapha Ikhegbe Abubakar, Emmanuel Ibhagbemien Esene, Henry Adedayo Bello, Boniface Chinedu Moore and Clement Amechi Ezika.
“The advocate list also has Omokayode Adebayo Dada, Edwin Anikwem, Roy Ogbonnaya Umahi Nwaeze, Olumide Oniyire Olugbenga, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Ayoola Olufemi Ajayi, Paul Chukwuma Obi, Olasupo Dominic Ati-John, Cole Segun Ololade, Charles Ayodeji Adeogun-Phillips and Okechukwu Kingsley Ajunwa.
“Others are also Jacob Ocheogbu Ifere, Emmanuel Aderemi Adekile, Christopher Ehumadu Okeke, Waziri Yusha’u Mamman,
Oluronke Adeyemi, Oluwole Olawale Afolabi, Toboukebide Kekemeke, Akinbamigbe Adesomoju and Victor Owarienomare Odjemu.
“Also on the list are Josiah Ojochide Daniel-Ebune, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, Abdulaziz Enebi Ibrahim, Stanley Chidozie Imo, Charles Oladipo Titiloye, Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Kingsley Chuku, Adeyinka Oluwaseun Aderemi, Olaolu Akintunde Owolabi, Adedeji Sharafadeen Abdulkadir, Idowu Omotunde Benson and Kolawole James Olowookere.
“Others are Chinasa Thelma Unaegbunam, Ademola Oluwawolemi Esan, Omosanya Atilola Popoola, Taiye Ayotunde Oniyide,
Emonye Oga Adekwu, Aderemi Oguntoye, Kashopefoluwa Olawale Balogun, Abdul Adamu, Theodore Okey Ezeobi, Rilwan Birnin Kebbi Umar, Chienye Ifeanyichukwu Okafor, Kaka Shehu Lawan, Abba Muhammed, Wendy Nwenenda Kuku and Ekele Enyinnaya Iheanacho.
“The rest are Okechukwu George Edeze, Akinyemi Oluwole Olujinmi, Gyang Yaya Zi, Idris Abubakar, George Ibrahim, Boonyameen Babajide Lawal, Terkaa Jeremiah Aondo, Tochukwu Peter Tochukwu, Uchenna Uzo Njoku, Paul Babatunde Daudu, Chukwudi Kachikwu Enebeli, Yusuf Olatunji Ogunrinde, Tobechukwu Kenechukwu Nweke, Ademola Kamardeen Abimbola, Yunus Abdulsalam, Mofesomo Ayodeji Tayo-Oyetibo and Chukwuemeka Agamadodaigwe Nnawuchi.
“Those shortlisted from the academic camp are Prof. John Alewo Agbonika, Prof. Osy Ezechukwunyere Nwebo, Prof. Nlerum Sunday Okogbule, Prof. Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri, Prof. Nathaniel Ahagbue Inegbedion, Prof. Collins Chijioke Obioma, Prof. Violet Aigbokhaevbo, Prof. Augustine Robert Agom, Prof. Ibrahim Abdulqadir Abikan, Prof. Chima Josephat Ubanyionwu and Prof. Ganiyu Adeyemi Oke.”
The statement asked the general public to comment on the integrity, reputation, and competence of the applicants, adding that complaints must be accompanied by a verifying affidavit deposed to by the author before a superior court of record in Nigeria or before a Notary Public.
Although 98 applicants were shortlisted, the statement, however, clarified that publication of the names of the shortlisted applicants was not an indication of their success in the final process.