The pre-conferment dinner for the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), held at Cilantro Restaurant, Maitama, was more than a celebratory event; it became a moment of profound reflection on professional duty and ethics, highlighted by an address from renowned legal luminary, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN, OFR, MFR.
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Delivering the keynote speech at the event hosted by Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, OFR, Chief Gadzama framed the SAN rank not as a pinnacle, but as a “commissioning” for greater service to the legal profession and society. Under the theme, “The Silk Robe: A Garment of Service, A Shield of Integrity,” he urged the incoming Silks to embrace honesty, humility, honour, and hospitality—principles he attributed to fellow elder, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.
“The title SAN is not a retirement package; it is a commissioning,” Gadzama declared. “The challenges do not disappear; they simply change their form. The greatest danger is to believe you have ‘arrived’.”
Gadzama also issued a stern warning on professional accountability, citing international precedents, including the disbarment of American lawyer Tom Girardi for embezzlement, as a cautionary tale of what happens when oversight fails. “When findings from foreign tribunals become the primary source of accountability for our colleagues, it is a profound indictment on our own internal mechanisms,” he said. “The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria must not be a silent sanctuary; it must be a vigilant guild.”
A key point in the address centered on the “Courage of Value,” with Gadzama urging adherence to the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order. He emphasized that charging appropriate fees is crucial to preserving the dignity of the SAN rank and preventing a “race to the bottom” that erodes professional standards.
As the new Senior Advocates prepare for their swearing-in ceremony, Chief Gadzama concluded with a powerful exhortation: “You are now the guardians of the flame. Carry it with courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the belief that the law, in its highest form, is not a weapon for the powerful, but a tool for the pursuit of a more just and equitable society.”
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