Bukola Saraki, a former Senate President has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking to stop the proposed conferment of the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank on the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Kwara State, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim, accusing him of weaponising the criminal justice system for political persecution and conduct incompatible with the honour and integrity required of the country’s highest legal distinction.
In the petition dated May 25, 2026, Saraki urged the Chief Justice, who chairs the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), to subject Ibrahim’s candidacy to rigorous scrutiny, arguing that his official conduct falls “completely short of the high standard of integrity, honour and professional ethics” expected of any lawyer seeking elevation to the rank of SAN.
The former Senate President alleged that Ibrahim abused the constitutional powers of his office by initiating what he described as malicious and legally baseless criminal proceedings against him, despite an earlier decision by the Federal Government’s Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) reportedly clearing him of any wrongdoing in connection with the 2018 Offa robbery case.
According to Saraki, the Kwara attorney-general proceeded to file charges against him and two others, knowing they lacked legal merit and were designed primarily to inflict political and reputational damage.
“The charges were deliberately timed and designed to cause grave public embarrassment, inflict reputational damage and maliciously de-market me politically,” Saraki stated in the petition.
He further claimed that he was never invited by the police for questioning or confronted with any allegations before the criminal charges were instituted, adding that he only became aware of the case after court processes were pasted on the gate of his residence in Ilorin, directing him to appear before the court on June 10, 2026.
Saraki said the petition was founded on two principal grounds: malicious prosecution and abuse of constitutional powers, as well as the filing of frivolous criminal charges in violation of due process.
He argued that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is reserved for legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional professional competence, unquestionable integrity and unwavering commitment to the rule of law, stressing that it should never be conferred on anyone who deploys state prosecutorial machinery to settle political scores.
“It must never be conferred upon a practitioner who uses state prosecutorial machinery to wage personal or political vendettas,” he wrote, adding that Ibrahim had demonstrated a lack of fairness, emotional detachment and ministerial integrity expected of those entrusted with the administration of justice.
To reinforce his allegations, Saraki also submitted an affidavit before the Kwara State High Court in support of the petition.
The petition comes against the backdrop of the 20 charges filed in April by the Kwara State Government against Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, former Chief of Staff Yusuf Abdulwahab and former aide Alabi Olalekan over allegations of arming suspects later convicted for the 2018 Offa robbery attacks.
The LPPC recently shortlisted 89 applicants for the 2026 SAN conferment exercise and is expected to conclude its screening process before announcing the successful candidates.
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