A former General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN, has faulted the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the screening of lawyers recently cleared for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
In a statement issued on Monday, August 18, 2025, Akinboro described the move as an “intrusion that undermines both the independence of the legal profession and the sanctity of due process.”
According to him, the SAN title is a professional recognition strictly governed by the Legal Practitioners Act and administered by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), and not a political or executive appointment that requires security vetting.
“The conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is not a political appointment, nor is it an executive privilege. It is a professional recognition rooted in law and administered solely by the LPPC. To subject this process to external security vetting after rigorous scrutiny has already been undertaken by the LPPC is an intrusion,” Akinboro said.
He further warned that allowing institutions outside the profession to interfere in the conferment process could set a dangerous precedent capable of threatening the autonomy of the Bar, judicial appointments, and ultimately the administration of justice.
“The strength of the Bar has always been its autonomy. If we allow institutions outside the profession to insert themselves into its core processes without legal basis, we open the door to a precedent that may one day compromise not only the rank of SAN but also the independence of our courts and our ability to dispense justice without fear or favour,” he cautioned.
Akinboro, who is also a Life Bencher, urged the NBA, the LPPC, and the Body of Benchers to “rise to the moment” and resist attempts to “muscle the Bar,” insisting that silence on the matter would amount to acquiescence.
“This is not about individuals; it is about protecting the very framework that gives legitimacy to the rule of law in our country,” he added.
