AGF Fagbemi to SANs: Defend the Rank, or Lose It
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) , has issued a strong charge to his fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria: uphold the ethics of the profession — or risk losing the privilege.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) in Lagos, Fagbemi warned that the SAN rank is not a “licence for misconduct,” and that those who denigrate it can — and will — be stripped of the title.
“The Rank is a Privilege, Not a Shield”
Fagbemi, who chaired the event marking 50 years of the SAN rank, did not mince words:
“There are those among us who appear to regard the Rank as a licence for misconduct and indiscipline, under the mistaken belief that once conferred, it is inalienable.”
He clarified:
“That, of course, is not correct! The rank is a privilege, and, like all privileges, it can be withdrawn if the recipient denigrates or lives below the standard of the privilege.”
Self-Regulation Over Sanction
The AGF urged senior lawyers to police themselves, rather than leave the burden entirely on the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) or the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
“Enforcing discipline must start in-house, from our Body. It is, in fact, best that we, as a Body, self-regulate.”
His message: Lead by example, not by precept.
Junior Lawyers Also Addressed
In the same breath, Fagbemi cautioned junior lawyers against showing disrespect to Senior Advocates.
He reminded them that the rank is earned through excellence and must be treated with the esteem it deserves — even as its holders are held to the highest standard.
134 New SANs Inducted
The event also marked the formal induction of 134 new Senior Advocates — 87 from the 2024 set and 57 from 2025.
They were officially welcomed into BOSAN after completing the Body’s induction programme.
CJN Praised for Strengthening the Rank
Fagbemi commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who was Special Guest of Honour and delivered the dinner lecture.
He noted that under her leadership of the LPPC, the partnership between the Committee and BOSAN had helped elevate the integrity of the rank and strengthen the legal profession.
Scholarships for Law Students
In a bid to encourage the next generation, five law students from Nigerian universities were awarded scholarships at the ceremony — a symbolic link between the senior bar and the lawyers of tomorrow.
Fagbemi’s message was clear:
The SAN rank is not a retirement package. It is a living trust — and those who abuse it will not keep it.
As the inner bar marks 50 years, the challenge before its members is whether they will protect that legacy — or let it erode from within.
