There is rising disquiet within the legal profession following the decision of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) to increase the processing fee for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from ₦1 million to ₦5 million.

The announcement was contained in a public notice signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Mr. Kabir Eniola Akanbi, indicating the commencement of the 2026 award exercise.

According to the notice, the call for applications is made pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Paragraph 10(1)-(4) of the 2022 Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The LPPC stated that all applications for the 2026 SAN conferment shall be made only through its online platform, www.lppconline.com. The application portal will open at 12:00 a.m. on November 1, 2025, and close on January 31, 2026.

Under the revised schedule, applicants in private practice are to pay a non-refundable processing fee of ₦5 million, while those employed in government service will pay ₦2.5 million. Payments are to be made in favour of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (SAN) into Zenith Bank PLC (Account Number: 1014103141) or GT Bank PLC (Account Number: 0213662834).

Applicants are required to upload evidence of payment on the portal before proceeding with the rest of the application process.

The fee increase has, however, generated mixed reactions.

Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, was among the first to comment. Writing on his verified X (Twitter) handle, he said:

“The next round of applications to become SAN in Nigeria will cost practitioners ₦5 million non-refundable. Public servants interested will cough up ₦2.5 million. How do they expect an honest public servant to find this? Very soon they will price SAN into extinction.”

His remark drew numerous responses online.

Olúfúnké Baruwa @FunkeBaruwa wrote: “Sad and heartbreaking to see institutions and professions that are meant to serve, promote principles of transparency, accountability, fairness and justice become the very ones opposing it. The average, honest public servant even at directorate level earns less than ₦500k monthly.”

Bashir Aondohemba @shirAondohem9 said: “To become SAN is no longer for people of honesty. Find money, by all means, to pay and become one.”

Another user, Nzemeka @Nzemeka4, stated: “That’s why they have SANs that can’t interpret a common law because they aren’t worth it.”

JusticeForAll @alor_ikechukwu added: “Open and gross act of corruption. Institutional failures abound in Nigeria. Most promotions are not merit based.”

EBINUM Dickson Joseph @ebinumdickson noted that, “SAN will not be priced into extinction. Just that SAN would become exclusive to moneybags. IGR is the main focus here,” while Dike eji aga mba Imenyi @nelsonchudi observed: “The notice is dated 3rd Nov 2025, the portal will open 1st November 2025 and published 27th October. This tardiness demonstrates the road the process is traveling. In addition only one academic whose salary is 400k and they are to pay 5m will be selected.”

One user, Pheropizzle @pheropizzle, however, supported the fee increase, saying: “It is not a lot of money. It is necessary to show financial good standing. How are we sure you will pay juniors well and charge commensurate professional fees if you cannot afford to pay ₦5 million despite 10 years PQE and handling cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court?”

The LPPC has not provided any explanation for the increase as at the time of filing this report.