CJN Kekere-Ekun to swear in 57 new SANs as Supreme Court opens new legal year

In what is poised to be a ceremonious start to Nigeria’s judicial calendar, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, will on September 29 preside over the swearing in of 57 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), a move that signals both tradition and transition in the nation’s legal landscape.

According to a statement issued by Dr. Festus Akande, Director of Information & Public Relations at the Supreme Court, the event will mark the formal opening of the 2025/2026 legal year of the apex court. The special session will also feature the CJN’s much anticipated State of the Judiciary address, which aims to highlight the performance of the Supreme Court and the Nigerian judiciary in the 2024/2025 legal year.

The statement added that, in line with age long tradition, the Chief Justice will deliver the address during the special court session. Other leading stakeholders in the justice sector including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), and the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are also expected to present speeches touching on the state of the sector.

While the annual ritual of SAN elevation is often hailed as a celebration of legal excellence, critics have continued to raise questions about the selection process, which has long been accused of lacking transparency and being influenced by lobbying within elite legal circles.

The ceremony follows the Supreme Court’s annual vacation, which began on July 21st, after what the court described as a remarkably successful legal year. Yet many observers remain skeptical, as public confidence in the judiciary continues to erode amid persistent delays in high-profile cases, allegations of judicial compromise, and long standing calls for reform.

All official activities on September 29 are scheduled to begin at 10:00 am, but for many in the legal community, the real question isn’t just who gets sworn in, it’s whether the judiciary is ready to confront the deeper issues threatening its legitimacy.