34-year-old Oyewole, Umar, Ubanyionwu, 54 Others Get SAN Rank

Olufemi Olubunmi Oyewole, 34. Saleh Umar, and Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya are among the 57 lawyers elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).

Olufemi Olubunmi Oyewole is the son of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Court of Appeal and Partner at Templars in the Dispute Resolution and Arbitration group.

He holds a Master of Laws Degree in International Commercial Law from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

Oyewole is a Notary Public of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a member of the arbitration committee of the International Bar Association, as well as an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).

Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya is a former senior special assistant on Justice Sector Reform to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, in the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State.

On his part, Saleh Umar is a graduate of the University of Abuja who practises in Jigawa State but is originally from Kano State.

Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Mr Kanir Eniola Akanbi, said the list had been approved by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, at the LPPC’s 169th Plenary Session on Thursday.

“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.

“During the session, the Committee also considered three petitions submitted against certain applicants. Upon thorough review, each petition was found to be lacking in merit and was accordingly dismissed.

“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”, Akanbi said.

Among the advocates are Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, and Ernest Ikeji, while Prof Chima Ubanyionwu is the successful candidate from academia.

Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony for the 57 successful applicants is scheduled for Monday, September 29, 2025.

The new SANs are Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Fedude Zimughan, Ernest Chikwendu Ikeji, Victor Esiri Akpoguma, Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, AKintunde Wilson Adewale, Preye Agedah, Omamuzo Erebe, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Olumide Ekisola, George Ejie Ukaegbu, and Oromena Justice Ajakpovi.

Others include: Tairu Adebayo, Bawa Akhime Osali Ibrahim, Suleh Umar, Emeka Akabogu, Godwin Sunday Ogbosi, Godwin Aimuagbonrie Idiagbonya, Adeolu Olusegun Salako, Adetunji Oso, Achinike Godwin William-Wobodo, Shuaib Agbarere Mustapha, Adizua Chuchu Okoroafor, Olanrewaju Tasleem Akinsola, Amaechi Fidelis Iteshi, Adakole Edwin Inegedu, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, David Ogenyi Ogebe, Aminu Sani Gadanya, Oluseun Awonuga Adeniyi, Ikechukwu Raphael Uwanna, Ayodeji Joseph Ademola, Kelechi Nwaiwu, Lawal Garba Hudu, Ibim Simeon Dokubo, Luka Abubakar Haruna Musa, Shakeer Adedayo Oshodi, Oluwole Tolulope Jimi-Bada and Mubarak Tuani Adekilekun.

The rest are: Chinyere Ekene Moneme, Shuaib Magaji Labaran, Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, Augustine Enenche Audu, Ali Dussah Zubairu, Adeyemi Adebambo Pitan, Habeeb Abdulrahman Oredola, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, Victor Agunzi, Nkwegu Luke Ogbagaegwu, Bidemi Ifedunni Ademola-Bello, Temilolu Femi Adamolekun, Abdulkarim Kabiru Maude, Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina, Usman Yusuf Zaiyanu, Taiwo Azeez Hassan and Olufemi Olubunmi Oyewole.