AGF warns SANs against commercialising Rank, calls for faster discipline of erring lawyers

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has warned senior lawyers against turning the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) into a commercial privilege, urging them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professional discipline and public service.

Fagbemi also called for urgent reforms to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), expressing concern over the increasing cases of professional misconduct, particularly among senior members of the Bar.

The Attorney-General spoke on Monday in Abuja at the special session of the Supreme Court marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 Legal Year and the conferment of the SAN rank on 68 legal practitioners.

He said the continued delay in resolving complaints against lawyers could create the impression that the legal profession was designed to protect its own members, including those found culpable of misconduct.

“We cannot continue to pay lip service to the need to strengthen our disciplinary processes. As a first step, we need to consider modernising the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee,” he said.

Fagbemi stressed that disciplinary proceedings against lawyers must be transparent and concluded without unnecessary delays, adding that the Federal Ministry of Justice was engaging relevant stakeholders to address outstanding issues affecting the process.

Turning to the newly elevated Senior Advocates, the minister congratulated them on their admission to the Inner Bar but reminded them that the distinction came with greater professional and public responsibilities.

“The silk gown is not a commercial licence; it is a mantle of professional, constitutional, and social responsibility,” he said.

According to him, the true worth of the SAN rank should be measured by the conduct of its holders, the quality of their advocacy, their commitment to mentoring younger lawyers and their contributions to society.

He expressed concern over criticisms that the pursuit of the rank had become increasingly commercialised, with the distinction sometimes regarded more as a means of economic advantage than as a public trust.

Fagbemi urged members of the Inner Bar to protect the integrity of the rank by promoting ethical legal practice, fair remuneration, professional development, affordable access to justice and respect for the rule of law.

He noted that the rank, established in 1975, was intended to recognise exceptional legal ability and harness the finest talents of the profession to advance Nigerian jurisprudence and strengthen the administration of justice.

The minister also urged senior lawyers to demonstrate humility, discipline and mutual respect, regardless of their professional standing.

He recalled an incident during the Sunrise International Arbitration proceedings involving former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Muhammadu Buhari, which he said demonstrated the importance of respect and humility among eminent personalities.

According to Fagbemi, Buhari rose to his feet when he sighted Obasanjo from a distance and remained standing until the former president had taken his seat.

He said the gesture illustrated the values of discipline, patience and regard for seniority that should characterise relationships within the legal profession.

AGF backs digital transformation of courts

Fagbemi commended the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for introducing a universal electronic filing regime at the Supreme Court, describing it as an important step towards modernising judicial administration.

He said the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Record of Appeal and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026, would help address weaknesses associated with manual filing, reduce the risk of interference with case files and minimise delays in processing appeals.

The reform, he added, was expected to accelerate the preparation of cases for hearing and facilitate the timely delivery of justice.

However, he urged the judiciary to go beyond electronic filing by embracing comprehensive digital transformation, including modern courtrooms, automated case tracking, secure digital archives and virtual hearing facilities.

According to him, digitising the entire appeals process would reduce procedural bottlenecks while improving efficiency, transparency and accountability.

The minister also appealed for greater punctuality, improved communication and professional courtesy across the judicial system, commending the Supreme Court for practices that minimise inconvenience to lawyers and litigants when proceedings are delayed or adjourned.

He urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to encourage the adoption of similar standards across the courts, within the limits of her constitutional and administrative authority.

Calls for broader pool of judicial appointments

The Attorney-General called for transparent, rigorous and merit-based judicial appointments, emphasising the need to select candidates with exceptional intellectual ability, discipline, character and integrity.

He also advocated broadening the pool of candidates considered for judicial appointments to include qualified Senior Advocates, academic professors and other distinguished legal practitioners.

Fagbemi said appropriate judicial performance evaluation mechanisms were equally necessary to promote accountability and sustain professional excellence.

He stressed that judicial independence must be accompanied by institutional accountability and a constructive relationship among the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, he urged judges to remain impartial in determining electoral disputes and other cases, guided exclusively by the Constitution and the law.

He warned that disagreements with judicial decisions must not become excuses for intimidation or attacks on the independence of the courts.

“Judicial decisions may not always enjoy universal approval, but disagreement must never become an excuse for intimidation or attacks on judicial independence,” he said.

He added that the authority of the courts depended on the courage, integrity, impartiality and consistency with which judges upheld the law, rather than on whether their decisions enjoyed popular approval.

### FG highlights ongoing legal reforms

Fagbemi said the Federal Ministry of Justice was pursuing legislative and institutional reforms to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework, strengthen access to justice and protect the national interest.

Among the initiatives he identified were the proposed Legal Practitioners Bill, the review and consolidation of the Laws of the Federation, and efforts to reform the country’s arbitration and alternative dispute resolution framework.

He disclosed that the ministry had also constituted a committee to review the Public Procurement Act, 2007, with a view to strengthening transparency, accountability and value for money in public procurement.

In the energy sector, he said a legal audit committee was reviewing agreements and memoranda of understanding relating to accelerated gas development projects to identify legal vulnerabilities and protect the country against substantial financial liabilities.

He added that criminal justice reforms remained focused on effective prosecution, the protection of fundamental rights, the reduction of impunity and the efficient administration of criminal justice, including the prosecution of terrorism-related offences.

The minister cited the favourable outcome of the Sunrise/Mambila arbitration proceedings as an example of how effective legal representation could protect the country’s economic interests and avert substantial financial exposure.

He described justice as not only a constitutional obligation but also an economic asset, arguing that the prompt and predictable resolution of disputes would strengthen investor confidence and encourage economic activity.

Fagbemi urged state governors, particularly as the 2027 elections approach, to seek and give due consideration to the legal advice of their respective Attorneys-General to promote lawful governance and avoid unnecessary litigation.

He also congratulated the newly elevated SANs, including three serving state Attorneys-General, and commended their respective governors for supporting their professional advancement.

The Attorney-General concluded by urging the Bar and Bench to work together to strengthen ethical advocacy, improve judicial efficiency, expand access to legal services and sustain public confidence in the administration of justice.

He said the success of the justice system depended not only on sound laws, effective institutions and timely judgments but also on the integrity of those responsible for interpreting, administering and practising the law.