Olugbenga Ajala Becomes SAN with 68 others

Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala, a legal practitioner and graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), has been elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), marking a significant milestone in his legal career.

Ajala was among the 68 legal practitioners admitted to the rank by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), with the formal swearing-in ceremony held in Abuja on Monday, October 12, 2026, during the opening of the 2026/2027 Legal Year of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The achievement was celebrated in the company of family members, friends and professional colleagues who gathered to share in the moment. Among those who joined him were his mother, his wife and close associates, including Abosede Oguntade, daughter of retired Supreme Court Justice George Adesola Oguntade.

**Abosede Oguntade, with Ajala’s wife and mother**

Also present to celebrate the new Senior Advocate was Ranti Thomas, Publisher and Chief Editor of The Royal Times Newspaper and Online, as well as Publisher and Chief Editor of The Network Times. Thomas joined other well-wishers in recognising Ajala’s achievement and the significance of reaching one of the most distinguished levels of professional recognition in Nigeria’s legal profession.

The presence of his family and colleagues added a personal dimension to the occasion, reflecting the importance of encouragement, relationships and support as professionals pursue demanding career goals. For Ajala, the ceremony was not only a formal recognition of his standing in the legal profession but also an opportunity to share the moment with people who have been part of his personal and professional journey.

The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is among the highest professional distinctions available to legal practitioners in the country. It is conferred on lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional professional distinction through advocacy, legal practice or significant contributions to legal scholarship.

Attaining the rank is a rigorous process. Applicants undergo scrutiny by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, which assesses their professional records and suitability against established requirements. The process demands a sustained record of legal competence, professional integrity and service to the administration of justice.

The distinction is therefore more than an honorary title. It represents recognition of a lawyer’s professional standing and comes with expectations of continued excellence, ethical conduct and responsibility to the legal profession.

Ajala’s elevation places him among the practitioners recognised in the 2026 conferment exercise, which comprised 67 advocates and one academic applicant, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.

At the ceremony, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, emphasised the responsibilities that accompany professional distinction, reminding members of the Bar that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria does not exempt its holders from professional accountability.

Her remarks reinforced the expectation that lawyers who attain the distinction should continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, discipline and respect for the rule of law.

The CJN also warned judges and lawyers against conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections. She specifically cautioned against forum shopping and the filing of multiple proceedings seeking substantially similar reliefs, noting that such practices could generate conflicting court orders and disrupt the administration of justice.

She further condemned attempts to intimidate or harass judicial officers through social media, stressing that disputes and complaints should be addressed through appropriate legal and professional channels.

The message underscored the broader obligations of legal practitioners, particularly those who have attained the rank of SAN, to protect the integrity of the justice system and contribute to public confidence in the courts.

For Ajala’s family, friends and colleagues, the conferment represents an occasion to celebrate a major professional achievement. Their presence at the Abuja ceremony reflected the personal significance of the milestone and the value of sharing such moments with people who matter.

His connection to the University of Lagos also places the achievement within the wider story of the institution’s contribution to Nigeria’s legal profession. UNILAG has produced legal practitioners, academics and judicial officers who have gone on to serve in important capacities across the country’s justice system.

As congratulations continue to follow his elevation, Ajala’s admission to the inner Bar marks the beginning of another chapter in his legal career, with the distinction bringing both recognition and a renewed expectation of professional responsibility.

Congratulations to Olugbenga Olusanya Ajala, SAN, on this well-deserved achievement. His elevation is a proud moment for his family, friends, colleagues and the University of Lagos community, and a fitting occasion to recognise the dedication required to attain one of Nigeria’s most distinguished legal honours.