The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, will deliver a ‘state-of-the nation’s judiciary’ address on Wednesday, December 8.
The Supreme Court made this known in a statement released on Sunday in Abuja.
According to the statement signed by the Director of Press and Information of the Supreme Court, Festus Akande, the CJN’s address will highlight the Supreme Court’s “performance and by extension, the Nigerian judiciary in the outgone 2020/2021 legal year”.
Also, he highlighted other programmes to mark the new legal year to include the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on 72 lawyers at the main courtroom of the Supreme Court.
Recalled that on October 21, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) had announced the elevation of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ekiti State, Olawale Fapohunda, and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu, and 70 other lawyers for conferment of the SAN rank.
The LPPC had earlier shortlisted 130 lawyers for the coveted title.
“Expectedly, during the new legal year ceremony, the Chief Justice of Nigeria will deliver a state-of-the nation’s Judiciary address, which is ostensibly to highlight the performance of the Supreme Court; and by extension, the Nigerian Judiciary in the outgone 2020/2021 legal year,” the statement read in part.
Akande explained that in conferring the SAN rank for 2021, “the prevailing third wave of COVID-19 and the protracted strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) early in the year, slowed down the work of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee”
“All the programmes billed to mark the commencement of the new legal year are to start at 10:00am prompt,” the statement read.
See full list of the SANs-designate:
ACADEMIC appointees include;
1. Prof Bankole Akintoye Sodipo, Christian Chizundu Wigwe, Ajagbe Toriola Oyewo, Rasheed Jimoh Ijaodola, Oluyinka Osayame Omorogbe, Josephine Aladi Achor Agbonika, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Prof Edoba Bright Omoregie, Abiola Olaitan Sanni, Anthony Ojukwu Okechukwu,
ADVOCATES appointees include; George Audu Anuga, Simon Asember Lough, Eko Ejembi Eko, Ayo Abraham Olorunfemi, Reuben Okpanachi Atabo, John Ogwu Adele, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, Eyitayo Ayokunle Fatogun, Jacob Johnson Usman, Tajudeen Olaseni Oladoja, Salman Jawando Ayinla, Adeola Rasaq Omotunde, Mathew Gwar Bukka, Mohammed Ndayako, Hassan Usman El-Yakub, Ishaq Magaji Hussaini, Samuel Atung, Mohammed Abdulhamid, Kabiru Aliyu, Mohammed Abdulaziz Sani, Uche Sunday Awa, Uchenna Chinyere Ihediwa, Philip Ndubuisi Umeh, Peter Aguigom Afuba
Others are; Felix Anayo Onuzulike, Benjamin Chukwudi Uzuegbu, Benjamin Nworah Osaka, Ikenna Okoli, Edwin Sunday Chukwujekwu Obiora, Emeka Jude-Philip Obegolu, Clement Onwuenwunor, Chijioke Ogugua Precious Emeka, Anthony Obinna Mogboh, Victor Ugwuezumba Opara, Kamasuode Wodu, Charles Udoka Ihua-Maduenyi, Sammie Abiye Somiari, Ogaga Ovrawah, Charles Dumbiri Mekwunye, Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe, Marcellous Eguvwe Oru, Mark Okebuinor Mordi, Ehiogie West-Idahosa, Fredricks Ebos Itula, Ibrahim Idris Agbomere, Anthony Ademuyiwa Adeniyi, Bolarinwa Olotu, Adekola Olawale Fapohunda, Adekunle Akanbi Ojo, Olaotan Olusegun Ajose-Adeogun, Rotimi Sheriff Seriki, Olukayode Oluwole Adeluola, Adeyinka Moyosore Kotoye, Oluwasina Olanrewaju Ogungbade, Afolabi Fatai Kuti, Francis Omotosho, Ayodeji Adedipe, Adeleke Olaniyi Agbola, James Akingbola Akinola, Muritala Oladimeji Abdul-Rasheed, Dauda Adekola Mustapha, kazeem Adekunle Gbadamosi.
