Alex Enumah in Abuja

A human rights activist and constitutional lawyer, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, wife of another rights activist, Femi Falana, Mrs. Funmi Falana, a former Legal Adviser of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and 55 others were yesterday elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The elevation followed their success at an interview session with the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee  (LPPC), the body responsible for the discipline of lawyers in the country.

The decision to promote the lawyers was taken at the 159 plenary session of the LPPC held on October 12, and under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, a statement by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court/Secretary of the LPPC, Hajo Sarki-Bello, said.
“The rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession, who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics,” the statement read in part.

Adding that the new SAN would be inaugurated on Monday November 27, by the CJN at the Supreme Court complex, Sarki-Bello, revealed that the LPPC meeting considered four different petitions against some of the applicants and dismissed them for lacking in merit.
Although the LPPC had last month shortlisted 69 candidates for consideration for conferment with the prestigious SAN rank, only 58, emerged successful.
While 57 were from the advocate, 12 were shortlisted from the academic.
The registrar while announcing the shortlisted candidates on September 15, had urged members of the public “to comment on the integrity, reputation and competence” of the candidates.

Beside Ajulo, Falana and Enoidem, others who emerged successful were Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie, Folasade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, Bomo Agbebi, Daniel Uruakpa, and Oseloka Osuigwe.
Others included Babatunde Adeoye, Babaseyi Joseph, Kehinde Aina, Nghozi Oleh, Chile Okoroma, Ibrahim Angulu, Olayiwola Afolabi, Friday Onoja, Jonathan Taidi and Agada Elachi, erstwhile chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Abuja branch.
Meanwhile, only only Professor Babatunde Oni, emerged successful amongst the 12 shortlisted from the academic.