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A new representative, Sagir Suleiman Gezawa (SAN), defended the growing competitiveness and attractiveness of the process of awarding the title of Senior Lawyer of Nigeria to the country’s legal practitioners, stressing that the number of recipients remained relatively small compared to Nigeria’s legal population.
Gezawa, a senior lawyer from Nigeria, was among the 68 new SANs recently awarded the prestigious honor on Monday in Abuja.
Nigeria, according to him, had more than 200,000 lawyers, while the number of lawyers who had been awarded the prestigious rank remained relatively limited.
Gezawa said although 68 new recipients had joined the existing body of Senior Lawyers of Nigeria, bringing the total number of awards since the inception of the rank to around 2,000, including deceased recipients, he however pointed out that more than 100 of those who had previously been awarded the rank had passed away, underscoring the need to assess the number of living SANs against the overall population of legal practitioners.
The newly conferred SAN pledged to continue its dedication to the administration of justice, promotion of the rule of law and mentorship of young lawyers, urging Nigerians to ensure that the 2027 general elections are decided by ballot rather than in court.
Gezawa made the pledge while answering journalists’ questions at a reception held in his honor following his inauguration as Nigeria’s senior lawyer alongside 67 other legal professionals.
He said the prestigious rank comes with recognition, honor and prestige, but stressed that the greater responsibility is to contribute significantly to the development of the legal profession and the administration of justice in the country.
“What Nigerians should expect from me is continuous dedication, continuous hard work in the administration of justice, in my advocacy for the rule of law and in supporting our youngest through mentorship,” he said.
The new SAN expressed concern about the challenges facing the legal profession, in particular the need to restore and uphold professional standards.
According to him, he would do his best to maintain the standards of the profession, uplift younger lawyers through mentorship and contribute to the continued development of legal education and practice in Nigeria.
In preparation for the 2027 general elections, Gezawa called on political actors to respect the will of the electorate and allow the outcome of the polls to reflect the free and fair expression of Nigerians.
“The first thing I will say is that this election season doesn’t have a lot of cases. In previous election cycles, there would have been a lot of pre-election matters pending in our courts by now, which is not the case currently,” he said, arguing that elections should be determined primarily by voters and not through lengthy legal battles.
“My expectation is that the elections will be determined by ballot. That Nigerians will be allowed to express themselves freely and fairly, and that the actors will also accept the will of Nigerians,” he said, urging lawyers and other stakeholders in the judicial system to uphold justice and the rule of law should election disputes arise after the polls.
He described legal practitioners as ministers in the temple of justice and called on them to ensure that their conduct in election-related cases remains guided by justice, fairness and national interest.
“If, in any case, it ends up or goes to court, I will call on all of us, as ministers in the temple of justice, to stand with justice, to stand with the rule of law and to stand with Nigerians in defending or presenting our cases on behalf of our clients,” he said.
On the growing competitiveness and attractiveness of the SAN rank, Gezawa defended the award process, stressing that the number of recipients remained relatively small compared to Nigeria’s legal population.
He said Nigeria has more than 200,000 lawyers, while the number of lawyers awarded the prestigious rank remained relatively limited.
Gezawa said the 68 new recipients joined the existing corps of Senior Lawyers of Nigeria, bringing the total number of awards since inception to about 2,000, including deceased recipients.
He added that more than 100 of those previously awarded the rank had died, underscoring the need to weigh the number of living SANs against the overall population of legal practitioners.
While recognizing the work already carried out by the body responsible for awarding, he hoped for the continued maintenance and strengthening of the selection criteria.
“Let the standard be maintained and let there be improvements, of course, in strengthening the standards, so as to produce the best as senior lawyers of Nigeria,” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya, her predecessor, Mazi Afam Osigwe, former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and a Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Lawal Shaibu, Justice DJ Aboki, the CJ of Kano State, Professor Hamisu Yadudu, Head of ICPC, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, Professor Mamman Lawal, Honorable Justice Lawal Shaibu, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, his mother Hajia Habiba, his brother, Dr. Manir Suleiman and his two wives congratulated Gezawa on his award of the prestigious rank of SAN.
Legal luminaries and other dignitaries delivered the eulogies at a reception held in Abuja in honor of Gezewa, where they described his elevation as a significant milestone in his legal career and urged him to use the honor to advance the legal profession and serve humanity.
Speaking at the reception, the NBA President expressed confidence that the new rank will bring the celebrant greater opportunities, success and professional fulfillment and noted that the reality of becoming a Senior Lawyer of Nigeria would become clearer when he first appears in court wearing the silk associated with the prestigious rank.
In his goodwill message, Justice Shaibu of the Court of Appeal said Gezawa’s courtroom performance impressed him, prompting him to tell his colleagues that the young lawyer had the potential to become a senior lawyer of Nigeria.
He expressed satisfaction that Gezawa lived up to that initial assessment, adding that the new SAN did not disappoint him.
Shaibu also recognized the importance of mentorship in the practice of law, noting that Gezawa benefited from the guidance of an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer.
Drawing on his experience as chair of the committee responsible for selecting candidates for the SAN rank, the judge described the award process as rigorous, explaining that many experienced lawyers apply but only a limited number are successful.
He said Gezawa’s emergence among those selected was a notable achievement and a source of encouragement for younger lawyers aspiring to reach the rank.
He urged the new senior lawyer to leverage his high professional standing to create more service opportunities, uphold the rule of law and contribute meaningfully to the justice system.
Also speaking on behalf of the celebrant’s family, Dr Manir Suleiman described Gezawa’s achievement as an emotional moment that brought back memories of their childhood and their late father.
Suleiman recalled meeting the celebrant when he was still in primary school, shortly before he went abroad for his studies.
He said he later remembered how their late father had spoken proudly of Gezewa when he was preparing to be admitted to university, expressing confidence in his future.
According to him, the father had a special pride in Gezewa and high expectations for what he would achieve, adding that, beyond his professional achievements, Gezewa was an honest and respected family member and a man of integrity in society.
In a separate goodwill message, Kwankwaso congratulated Gezewa, who he described as their son, and expressed pride in his achievements.
The former governor and vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has prayed that Almighty Allah will continue to guide the new senior lawyer, grant him wisdom and ensure the success of his professional career.
He particularly emphasized that the outcome should benefit humanity, stating that Gezawa should be guided to use his professional position and new status for the good of society.
The reception brought together lawyers, family, friends and other distinguished guests to celebrate Gezawa’s elevation to one of the highest honors of the legal profession in Nigeria.
