The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has inaugurated 57 newly appointed Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) on Monday, September 29, as part of events marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 legal year of the Supreme Court.

Speaking during the special session of the Supreme Court at the Supreme Court Compex, Abuja, Justice Kekere-Ekun described the appointments of the new SANs as a moment of “solemn reflection and renewed commitment to the noble calling of justice.”

Kekere-Ekun urged the newly appointed SANs to uphold the dignity of the rank, warning that the privilege could be withdrawn if used wrongly.
Ads by

She said: “This occasion is not merely a celebration of time passing, but a call to take stock, reflect on our challenges and achievements, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of justice, fairness, and service to the Nigerian people.”

Kekere-Ekun also paid glowing tributes to four eminent jurists who died during the last legal year, including ex-Chief Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais and three retired Supreme Court justices.

She applauded their “unwavering commitment to justice” and condoled their families and the families of judicial staff lost during the year.

The CJN stated major reforms undertaken in the judiciary over the past year, including:

READ ALSO: CJN Swears In 57 New SANs Monday

“Petition Resolution: All pending petitions before the National Judicial Council, NJC, were resolved, with sanctions imposed where necessary and exonerations granted to those unjustly accused. A serial frivolous petitioner was barred from filing further petitions, while errant lawyers were referred to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee, LPDC.

Read Also

“Court Modernization: Case management systems were streamlined, court records digitized, and a new Court Records Processing Unit established to drastically reduce missing files.

“Digitization: The Nigerian Case Management System, NCMS, is set for nationwide rollout, enabling e-filing of appeals and reducing delays caused by physical filings.

“Automation: The Supreme Court’s Notary Public Unit is now fully automated, with an Electronic Notary Register, ENR, for centralized tracking of certified Notaries.

“Staff Welfare: Salaries and allowances were paid promptly, welfare packages improved, and constructive engagement with JUSUN helped avoid strikes.”

READ ALSO: LPPC Shortlists 57 Lawyers For SAN Rank For 2025

Those sworn in includes, Theophilus Kolawole Esan, Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, Olumide Ekisola, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Ernest Chikwendu Ikeji, amongst others.

According to Kekere-Ekun, the Supreme Court heard 2,280 matters, including 560 appeals, and delivered 369 judgments.

This is a major rise from the previous year’s 247.

On efforts relating to anti-corruption, she disclosed that the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) have continued to work with coporations like the anti-graft agency (EFCC), which convicted about 1,417 persons in 2025, and the ICPC, which initiated 43 new cases and secured nine convictions.