NATIONAL: Families, friends of new 72 SANs barred from inauguration

THE Supreme Court management has said family members and well wishers of 72 lawyers to be sworn in as Senior Advocate of Nigeria on December 14 would not be permitted to enter the venue of the inauguration ceremony.

In a statement issued on Monday, Director, Press and Information, Supreme Court, Dr Akande Festus, said the directive became necessary to ensure strict compliance with Covid-19 protocols.

He disclosed that the inauguration of the new SANs would be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad.

Akande said the event would be part of the events marking the official commencement of the new 2020/2021 legal year of the apex court.

He stated that the CJN would also, at the event, give his report of the state of the judiciary and present the score card of the Supreme Court in the outgone legal year.

Dr. Festus added that as part of the efforts to prevent a crowded hall, the number of dignitaries and stakeholders who would grace the event would be limited.

Disclosing that the court’s foyer would be available for those who would be barred from entering the venue, Festus added that interested members of the public would be able to monitor the events live on various media platforms

The statement read in part, “In strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocol, spouses and friends of the 72 newly appointed Senior Advocates will not be allowed into the courtroom as was done in the past.

“For those that will be in their respective homes and offices, they can as well watch the various programmes live on YouTube, Twitters, Instagram, Facebook, Zoom and other social media platforms, as we are ever poised to make everyone have a feel of every single event.”

The Legal Practitioners’ Committee (LPPC), on November 14, 2020, announced the elevation of 72 lawyers to the Senior Advocate cadre.

The statement from the committee noted that the number of the new SANs was the highest ever to be witnessed since the conferment of the rank was initiated.

The chairman of the anti-graft agency, ICPC, Bolaji Owasanoye, was among 72 lawyers conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)

The committee had in September shortlisted a total of 137 candidates, both at advocate filtration stages and academic pre-qualification exercise, for the conferment of the coveted SAN rank.

The 72 successful candidates comprising 62 advocates and 10 in the academia.