Wolemi Esan, deputy managing partner at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, alongside 86 others, has been elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
A press release by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee on Thursday said the committee has approved the elevation of 87 lawyers, including Esan, to the Inner Bar.
It 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 five different petitions written against some of the applicants and determined that each of the petitions lacked merit and thus dismissed,” the committee said.
It said the swearing in of the 87 newly-promoted lawyers will take place on Monday, September 30, 2024.
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In a 2019 paper entitled, ‘Examining the Requirements for Conferment of the Rank Of Senior Advocate of Nigeria Vis-à-vis Decongestion of Courts,’ a lawyer, ILI Ikimi noted that the prestigious rank of SAN in the legal profession is an enviable one.
“Considering the privileges accorded persons in this class and the attendant respect they command, aspirants to the Bar, young lawyers as well as some senior lawyers’ desire to attain such rank. Thus, such persons desirous of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria would intend to remain at the Bar and not move to the Bench.”
In 2018, Onomigbo Okpoko (SAN), while addressing senior lawyers in 2018, said: “Nigeria needs honest lawyers rendering honest legal advice or services. It is a disservice to the administration of justice and to society as a whole for any Gentleman at the Bar to knowingly render wrong or dishonest opinion on matters of law or address to the Court hearing a case, a point of law which Counsel knows to be wrong in law or unsustainable.”
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