CJN swears in 57 new SANs, calls for integrity, reform in justice system

By Innocent Anaba

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Monday, swore successful 57 ineligible practitioners arsenic Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, astatine the Supreme Court Compex, Abuja.

Among those elevated was Adedayo Adesina, a ineligible practitioner, betterment advocate, and co-founder of Oyewole & Adesina, whose vocation has been marked by excellence successful advocacy, judicial reform, and nationalist service.

Speaking during the peculiar league of the Supreme Court marking the commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year, Justice Kekere-Ekun described the conferment of the SAN fertile arsenic a infinitesimal of “solemn reflection and renewed committedness to the noble calling of justice.”

She urged the caller SANs to uphold the dignity of the rank, informing that the privilege could beryllium withdrawn if abused.

“This juncture is not simply a solemnisation of clip passing, but a telephone to instrumentality stock, bespeak connected our challenges and achievements, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of justice, fairness, and work to the Nigerian people,” the CJN said.

Justice Kekere-Ekun besides paid tribute to 4 eminent jurists who passed distant during the past ineligible year, including erstwhile Chief Justice Muhammadu Lawal Uwais and 3 retired Supreme Court justices. She praised their “unwavering committedness to justice” and extended condolences to their families and the families of judicial unit mislaid during the year.

The CJN highlighted large reforms undertaken successful the judiciary implicit the past year, including:

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

Court Modernization: Case absorption systems were streamlined, tribunal records digitized, and a caller Court Records Processing Unit established to drastically trim missing files.

Improved Access to Justice: A Central Information Unit and Case Continuation Unit present let lawyers and litigants to way lawsuit advancement with ease.

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

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

Staff Welfare: Salaries and allowances were paid promptly, payment packages improved, and constructive engagement with JUSUN helped debar strikes.

The CJN reported that the Supreme Court heard 2,280 matters, including 560 appeals, and delivered 369 judgments, a important emergence from the erstwhile year’s 247.

On anti-corruption efforts, she noted that the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, COTRIMCO, continued to enactment with agencies similar the EFCC, which secured 1,417 convictions successful 2025, and the ICPC, which initiated 43 caller cases and secured 9 convictions.

Adedayo was calved successful Kano to the precocious Engr. Gbadebo Timothy Adesina and the precocious Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwatoyin Adesina, and hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State. He graduated apical of his people from the University of Jos successful 2008, was called to the Nigerian Bar successful 2009, and aboriginal earned an LL.M. successful Banking and Finance Law from the University of London.

His 15-year ineligible vocation has seen him enactment with starring instrumentality firms specified arsenic Dele Olaniyan & Co., Templars, and Wole Olanipekun & Co., earlier co-founding Oyewole & Adesina, wherever helium serves arsenic Managing Partner.

Adedayo played a pivotal relation successful betterment initiatives nether the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, PEBEC, including drafting the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (Omnibus Bill) and processing Practice Directions for Small Claims Courts crossed respective states — reforms that person importantly improved entree to justness and commercialized quality resolution.

Recognised by erstwhile Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his contributions to Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business reforms, Adedayo continues to mentor young lawyers and lend to assistance connected firm governance, concern law, and judicial reform.

He is simply a Notary Public, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Con...