Finally, Professor Obiaraeri, Along With 67 Others, Makes The SAN Rank

By Adesina Soyooye

October 12, 2026, is day for swearing-in

After a couple of disappointments, accomplished academic, Imo State-born Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiareri, has been honoured with the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, rank.

In a list of successful applicants made public on Thursday, 23rd July 2026,  signed by Kabir Eniola Akanbi, Esq, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court/Secretary LPPC, of Nigeria, Professor Obiareri was the only successful academic among the 68 applicants.

Following is the full text of Press Realease, with the complete list of the 68 new Senior Advocates as made public by Akanbi.

“LEGAL PRACTITIONERS’ PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE
SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA
THREE ARMS ZONE, SUPREME COURT COMPLEX,
P.M.B. 308, ABUJA – NIGERIA
TEL: 09-2344762

23rd July, 2026.

“PRESS RELEASE.

“The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), under the distinguished Chairmanship of His Lordship, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON, at its 174th Plenary Session held today, the 23rd day of July, 2026, has approved the elevation of 68 (sixty-eight) legal practitioners to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

“The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is conferred as a mark of professional excellence upon legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional distinction either as advocates in the courts or as academics contributing significantly to the development of legal scholarship.

“In accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), all shortlisted prospective Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) conferees are required to attend and successfully complete the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme. Participation in this programme is a mandatory prerequisite for the formal conferment of the rank of SAN. The date shall be communicated in due course.

“Furthermore, in line with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and the provisions of Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, all shortlisted conferees must refrain from publishing and discourage the publication of advertisements, congratulatory messages, or goodwill notices related to their nomination or conferment. Any breach of these provisions may attract sanctions for
violations of statutory or ethical rules as expressly stated.

“The Swearing-In Ceremony for the 68 (sixty-eight) successful
applicants is scheduled to hold on Monday, the 12th day of October, 2026.

The list of newly appointed Senior Advocates of Nigeria for the 2026
conferment exercise is as follows:

ADVOCATE APPOINTEES (IN ORDER OF SENIORITY AT THE BAR)

1. HAKEEM OBAFEMI AGABA, ESQ
2. IBRAHIM GAMDEH ADAMU, ESQ
3. JUDE CHUKWUEMEKA OKAFOR, ESQ
4. GODWILL ACHIBONG UMOH, ESQ
5. SUNDAY SAMUEL OBENDE, ESQ
6. ADEBAYO OLUGBENGA ADARALEGBE, ESQ.
7. JIMSON EJOVI OKODASO, ESQ
8. OLALEKAN LAWRENCE BADE-JOHN, ESQ
9. OLAOTAN THOMAS OLUSEGUN, ESQ.
10. PHILEMEON AUDU DAFFI, ESQ
11. ADENRELE DAVID ADEGBORIOYE, ESQ.
12. JAMES EROMOSELE AGBONHESE, ESQ
13. ALEXANDER NDUKA MUOKA, ESQ
14. ONOME OKODIYA, ESQ
15. EMMANUEL AKUNKE AKOMAYE, ESQ.
16. IKHIDE EHIGHELUA, ESQ
17. MAS’UD MOBOLAJI ALABELEWE, ESQ
18. OGUNMUYIWA OLAYINKA BALOGUN, ESQ
19. ANTHONY AUDITZ IROAGALACHI, ESQ
20. MOHAMMED TAJUDEEN MOHAMMED, ESQ
21. ODION PETER ODIA, ESQ
22. GBEMIGA ADARAMOLA, ESQ
23. MOSES OKOH ONYILOKWU, ESQ
24. CHARLES AZUBUIKE OBODOZIE, ESQ.
25. BIMBO FELIX ATILOLA, ESQ
26. OKECHUKWU STEVE EMELIEZE, ESQ.
27. JOSHUA DEMILADE OLANIYAN, ESQ
28. IGONIKON ABIOLA ADEKUNLE, ESQ
29. CHRISTIAN NNADOZIE NWOKORIE, ESQ
30. SADIKU MOMOH ILEGIEUNO, ESQ
31. . SARAFA KOLAWOLE IDOWU, ESQ
32. OLUJOKE ENITAN ALIUS, ESQ
33. OLIVER ONYENUCHEYA AMUZIE, ESQ
34. ADEBISI EMMANUEL ADENIYI, ESQ.
35. . FARUK ABDULLAH, ESQ
36. SAGIR GEZAWA SULEIMAN, ESQ.
37. IFEANYI GODWIN EZEUKO, ESQ
38. ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO OLOGE, ESQ
39. SABIU GUMBA ADAMU, ESQ
40. ERIC KEME-EGOLUKUMOR OMARE, ESQ
41. OIBI IDERIAH OVIA, ESQ
42. SOMINA PETER JOHNBULL, ESQ
43. CHINEDUM IKENNA UMECHE, ESQ
44. EMMANUEL EGHIEGBA EKHASEMOMHE, ESQ
45. MOHAMMED EL-HASSAN SHERIFF, ESQ.
46. JUNAIDU BELLO MARSHALL, ESQ
47. OLAWALE SUNDAY FAPOHUNDA, ESQ
48. ADEBIYI ALABA ADETOSOYE, ESQ
49. SENIOR SULYMAN IBRAHIM, ESQ.
50. AGBA EIMUNJEZE, ESQ
51. AYOBAMIDELE OYEKUNLE AKANDE, ESQ
52. ADETUNJI TAIWO ADEDOYIN ADENIYI, ESQ
53. OLAMIDE MOJIGBOTOLUWA ADEKUNLE, ESQ.
54. UMARU YUNUSA, ESQ.
55. AKOREDE HABEEB LAWAL, ESQ
56. DARLINGTON NNABUIKE OZURUMBA, ESQ
57. NNAEMEKA FRANCIS PATRICK EGONU, ESQ
58. KAYODE ORIRE OMOSEHIN, ESQ
59. MITCHEL AKINRINSOLA ARIBISALA, ESQ.
60. BOLU AGBAJE AKADRI, ESQ
61. OLUWASEUN ASIMIYU ALAO, ESQ.
62. OLUGBENGA OLUSANYA AJALA, ESQ.
63. MUSTAPHA OLAYINKA AJENIFUJA, ESQ
64. AFEES HASSAN ADEBAYO, ESQ
65. MOHAMMED ABIODUN ADELODUN, ESQ
66. JONATHAN AKINTOLA MAKINDE, ESQ.
67. OLAJIDE SALAMI, ESQ.

“The successful Academic Applicant is:

• PROF. NNAMDI ONYEKA OBIARAERI

“Dated at Abuja, Federal Capital Territory this 23ʳᵈ day of July, 2026.
KABIR ENIOLA AKANBI, ESQ
CHIEF REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA / SECRETARY LPPC”