A total of 58 legal practitioners were elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); among them were three Nigerlites.
They were sworn in by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Arowola at a ceremony that took place at the Supreme Court Complex on Monday, with a call to them to see their present position as another burden added to their professional callings.
Administering the oath of the legal profession and oath of office to them, the CJN reminded the newly elevated Senior Advocates of Nigeria to exhibit a high level of professional conduct and see their new position as a serious one in the discharge of their responsibilities as ministers in the temple of justice.
According to the CJN, a total of 175 legal practitioners applied for the position, out of which a total of 121 were screened, and 58 of them were considered for elevation, ensuring that the body of benchers will consider them in the next arrangement.
He told the senior lawyers to guide against professional misconduct in the discharge of their duties, noting that the legal practice and the judiciary were under trial and that they should exhibit a high sense of ethical norms in advising their clients in their respective litigations.
The CJN further reminded the senior advocates of Nigeria to consider their elevation as additional responsibilities added to their professional duty as legal practitioners, stressing the need for them to always put the interest and integrity of the noble profession above any other interest.
While congratulating the newly elevated senior advocates of Nigeria, SAN Justice Olukayode Arowola urged them to make use of their elevation to mentor younger generations of lawyers so they could become successful in the profession.
Speaking during the grand reception held for the newly appointed Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the Chief Judge of Niger State Justice, Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, congratulated them on their elevation to the position in their chosen careers.
Represented by Minna High Court number Four Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed, she told them to see their elevation as an opportunity to spur them to leave above board in pursuing the course of justice.
She appealed to them to guide against any act of unethical conduct in the discharge of their duty as senior members of the bar, adding that their conduct in the bar and outside the bar would be monitored by the society they represent in any of the litigations.
The three elevated senior advocates of Nigeria of Niger State origin included Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, Angulu Ibrahim, SAN, and Aliyu Ibrahim Lemu, SAN.