Ojukwu, Onagoruwa, 15 others become SANs

Dr Ernest Mabuachi Ojukwu and Dr Olu Onagoru-wa are toping the list of 17 senior lawyers to be awarded the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) as a mark of excellence.

Popular human rights activist, Festus Keyamo, earlier shortlisted for consideration, did not make the final list.

The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Secretary of the LPPC, Sunday Olorundahunsi, told a news conference that 109 legal practitioners and 23 academicians applied for the rank and after a screening, 19 legal practitioners and four academicians were interviewed.

'At the end of the interview, held on eighth and ninth of this month and the meeting of the committee held yesterday, 17 senior lawyers were considered worthy for the award of SAN title this year,' the Supreme Court Chief Registrar stated.

Olorundahunsi said this year's screening for the award of the title was rigorous as the guidelines of the LPPC were followed to the letter.

The successful lawyers are Dr Olu Onagoruwa, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (academician), Olusola Olaseni Idowu, Dr Ernest Mabuachi Ojukwu (academician), Ahamefula Ikechukwu Eke Ejelam, Chike George Onyemenam, Tawo Eja Tawo and Olatunde Oluranti Adejuyigbe.

Others are Sylvanus Aghumele Ogwemoh, Dr Adewale Adedamola Olawoyin, Dr Joshua Olukayode Olatoke, Teslim Olatunde Busari, Kelvin Chukwudi Nwufo, Dr Amuda-Kannike Abiodun, Oluwakemi Mufutau Balogun, Hakeem Olatunde Afolabi and Gerald Godwin E. Ezeuko.

The Chief Registrar said the new SANs would be inaugurated on September 22.