JUSTICE Walter Onnoghen, the chief justice of Nigeria, CJN, on Monday, September 18, swore in 29 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

The new SANs sworn in at the Special Court of the Supreme Court in Abuja included, Festus Keyamo, a Lagos-based human rights lawyer; Olusola Oke, a candidate of the Alliance for Democracy in the last governorship election in Ondo State, and a former national legal adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party; Akinlolu Osinbajo, a younger brother of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The inauguration of the new SANs is part of the proceedings of a special court session marking the commencement of the new 2017/2018 legal year of the Supreme Court.

The event was presided over by Onnoghen, who admonished the new SANs not to abuse their new position or else it would be withdrawn.

He said: “I must remind you that being a privilege, it can, and shall be withdrawn if abused.

“The privilege you are conferred with today is not intended as a weapon of intimidation or licence for rudeness and arrogance.

“It is an appointment that places both moral and professional duties on you, for which you have been found worthy to bear and discharge.

“As members of the Inner Bar, you now occupy positions of trust and great responsibility.

“Expectedly, you must imbibe every virtue of excellence, integrity, and diligence at all times.  You must also remember your duties to the Courts as custodians of justice.”

Also decorated as SAN were Adembambo Adewepo, a professor of law and a former director-general of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, and Adedeji Adekunle, a professor of law and the director-general of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, and Chibuike Nwokeukwu.

Others were Johnnie Egwuonwu, Bert Igwilo, Sylvester Enema, Ikenna Egbuna and Wilcox Aberton, Michael Alliyu, Francis Egele, Nasser Dangiri, Emeka Okpoko and  Sani Garun-Gabbas.

The rest included Abdul Ibrahim, John Odubela, Gboyega Oyewole and Joshua Musa, Ibrahim Mohammed, Ekemejero Ohwovorile,Oyetola Oshobi, Sulaiman Usman, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Chiesonu Okpoko, Kamaldeen Ajibade, Enefiok Essien, and Sadiq Shikyl.

–   Sept.  18, 2017 @ 13:46 GMT /