Nigeria TV Info 2026 SAN Conferment Exercise Under Threat as Lawyers Ask CJN to Halt Process

The 2026 conferment of the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has been thrown into uncertainty following calls by a group of lawyers urging the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to suspend the ongoing exercise pending the resolution of concerns surrounding the selection process.

The development comes barely 24 hours after the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) released a shortlist of 89 candidates for the 2026 SAN conferment, comprising 77 advocates and 12 academics. The committee stated that the shortlisted candidates had successfully passed several stages of screening, including chamber inspections, filtration exercises, and appeals hearings.

Sources within the legal community disclosed that the aggrieved lawyers are questioning aspects of the screening and evaluation process, arguing that transparency and fairness must be guaranteed before the final list of successful candidates is announced.

The controversy emerges amid heightened scrutiny of the SAN rank and ongoing efforts by the LPPC to preserve its integrity. Recently, the committee suspended prominent lawyer Mike Ozekhome from using the SAN title pending disciplinary proceedings, underscoring its commitment to maintaining ethical standards within the legal profession.

Legal analysts warn that any disruption to the conferment process could affect the timeline for the announcement and inauguration of successful candidates. However, others insist that addressing concerns raised by stakeholders would strengthen public confidence in the coveted rank.

The LPPC has repeatedly maintained that the SAN title remains the highest professional distinction for legal practitioners in Nigeria and is awarded strictly in accordance with established guidelines and statutory provisions.

As of press time, neither the CJN nor the LPPC had issued an official response to the demand for suspension of the 2026 exercise.