AGF: Being a SAN Is an Honour, Not Permission to Misbehave

Justice Minister and Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has cautioned that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title is a privilege that should not be misused, emphasizing that it is not an unalienable right and that it can be revoked if holders fail to meet expectations.

At a dinner hosted by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) on Saturday in Lagos to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the esteemed position, Fagbemi reportedly made the comments.

Special Adviser to the President (Communication and Publicity) in the Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice Kamarudeen Ogundele released a statement on Sunday that included his remarks.

Some of us seem to view the rank as a license for misbehavior and lack of discipline, believing that once it is granted, it cannot be taken away,” Fagbemi stated. That is obviously incorrect.

“The rank is a privilege, and it can be revoked, like any other privilege, if the recipient denigrates or lives below the privilege’s standards.”

The AGF restated that the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) had explicitly stated that the SAN title was revocable and may be taken away from recipients who didn’t follow the rules.

Discipline should start within the body itself, according to Fagbemi, who also serves as BOSAN’s chair, rather than depending just on outside regulatory bodies.

Discipline must be enforced within, beginning with our bodies. In reality, it is preferable for us as a Body to govern ourselves rather than entrusting the LPPC or, worse, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) with the full responsibility for regulating the rank,” he stated.

As he admonished Senior Advocates to maintain high ethical standards, he also warned junior attorneys not to treat SANs disrespectfully and urged them to respect the rank.

The dinner event marked the official induction of 134 new SANs into BOSAN, including 87 from the 2024 set and 57 from the 2025 set.

Five legal students from Nigerian universities were also awarded scholarships at the event.

As the special guest of honor, Fagbemi also commended Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of Nigeria. He said the SAN rank and the legal profession as a whole have been strengthened by the continued cooperation between BOSAN and the LPPC.