-Deborah Akinyosoye
Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, acting chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), will swear in 87 lawyers to the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Monday.
The elevation of the lawyers was approved at the 164th plenary session of a committee chaired by Olukayode Ariwoola, former chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), in August.
In a statement on Thursday, Festus Akande, spokesperson of the supreme court, said the swearing-in ceremony will be held at the apex court’s complex by 10 am.
Although the supreme court 2024/2025 legal year officially commenced on September 23, a ceremony to mark the opening will be held on Monday.
“The acting chief justice of Nigeria, Hon. justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, CFR will swear-in 87 new senior advocates of Nigeria on Monday, 30th September, 2024, at the main courtroom of the supreme court, as part of the programmes lined up to formally herald the 2024/2025 legal year of the court,” the statement reads.
“In line with our age-long tradition, during the special court session, the chief justice of Nigeria, will deliver a state-of-the Judiciary address, with a view to highlighting the performance of the supreme court in particular, and the Nigerian judiciary in general, in the 2023/2024 legal year.
“In the same vein, other leading stakeholders in the justice sector will present speeches bordering on the state of the justice sector of the country. These include: Hon. attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), amongst others.
“It will be recalled that the Supreme Court commenced its annual vacation on Monday, 22nd July, 2024. Though the Court had started sitting since Monday, 23rd September, 2024, the new legal year ceremony is now being formally held in accordance with our tradition.
“All the programmes outlined to mark the formal commencement of the new legal year will start at 10:00am in the main Courtroom of the Supreme Court.”