By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, LPPC, has conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 22 senior lawyers.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, who made the disclosure while briefing newsmen, said the new SANs were selected from a total of 131 applicants.

He said though 55 legal practitioners were shortlisted for interview, only 22 of them succeeded.

Whereas 19 of the successful candidates were drawn from the advocacy category, three of them are from the academic category.

Saleh said the LPPC got application from four female lawyers, with only two of them approved for the rank.

He said the Committee took the decision at its 123rd general meeting held on July 4.

According to him, the new SANs are the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr. Olanrewaju Adesola Onadeko, Nnamonso U do Ekanem, Prof. Muhammed Tabiu, Dr. Valerie-Janette Ogbonna Azinge, Olufunke Abimbola Agbor, Olusola Oladimeji Ojutalayo, Richard Ayodele Akintunde, Oyesoji Gbolahan Oyeleke.

Others are James Onyeanwuna Njeze Ikeyi, Elisha Yakubu Kurah, Adewunmi Adedeji Ogunsanya, Olatubosun Ola Olanipekun, Chief Kalu Ikwuonwu Umeh, Adewale Sunday Adesokan, Andrew Chukwuemeka Igbokwe, Fredson Chijioke Alexander Okoli, Olaseni Abiodun Adio, Olasheni Ibiwoye, Abdukhakeem Uthman Mustapha, Mba Ekpezu Ukweni, Edward Gyang Pwajok and Prof. Chukwu Amari Omaka.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed is expected to swear-in the new SANs on September 19.