The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has warned that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a privilege that can be withdrawn if abused, cautioning that it must not be treated as a licence for misconduct.
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Fagbemi made the statement in Lagos on Saturday at a dinner organised by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria to mark the 50th anniversary of the SAN rank.
In a statement on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi said some holders of the prestigious rank wrongly believe it is inalienable, stressing that such thinking is erroneous under existing regulations.
“There are those among us who appear to regard the rank as a licence for misconduct and indiscipline, under the mistaken belief that once conferred, it is inalienable. That, of course, is not correct.
“The rank is a privilege and, like all privileges, it can be withdrawn if the recipient denigrates or lives below the standard of the privilege,” the AGF said.
He added that the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee had made it clear that the rank could be withdrawn if a recipient denigrates or lives below its standards.
The AGF, who is also the Chairman of BOSAN, said enforcing discipline should begin within the body rather than being left entirely to external regulatory bodies.
“Enforcing discipline must start in-house, from our body. It is best that we, as a body, self-regulate and not place the entire burden of regulating the rank on the LPPC or, worse, the LPDC,” he said.
He also cautioned junior lawyers against showing disrespect to Senior Advocates, saying SANs must be accorded the respect befitting their exalted position, while urging SANs to uphold ethics and preserve the dignity of the rank.
At the event, 134 graduates of the BOSAN Induction Programme, comprising 87 SANs of the 2024 set and 57 SANs of the 2025 set, were formally admitted into the body, while five law students received scholarships.
Fagbemi commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who was the special guest of honour, noting that collaboration between BOSAN and the LPPC has helped strengthen the rank and advance the legal profession.
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