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  • 87 Lawyers elevated to Senior Advocates

    87 Lawyers elevated to Senior Advocates

    The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, (LPPC) has elevated 87 lawyers to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) .
    The rank of SAN is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.
    The 87 lawyers were conferred with the rank at the 164th Plenary Session of the Committee under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) , Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
    A statement by the Secretary of the LPPC, Hajia Hajo Sarki Bello in Abuja indicated that the 87 lawyers were picked for the award from the 98 lawyers shortlisted last month.
    The statement also revealed that 11 applicants were dropped from the race for undisclosed reasons.
    Similarly, the meeting was said to have considered five different petitions written against some of the applicants and were dismissed for lacking in merit.
     Meanwhile, the new senior lawyers would be inaugurated into the inner bar on September 30 this year.
    The newly elevated lawyers for year 2024 are:
    Lateef Olaseinde Karim, Godwin Tagbo Ike, Johnson Odionu, Nnodim Marcrllinus Duru,
    Innocent Adamd Ovbagbedia, Soronnnadi Anthony Njoku, Adamu Abubakar, Charles Oyaole Musa,Udochi Nunny Iheanacho, David Dare Onietan and Elele Chinatu Casmir.
    Others are Josiah Rapuluchuks Nduka, Godwin Ikechukwu Obeta, Habeeb Orisavbia Ilavbare, Moses Kolade Obafemi, Mathew Echezona Esonanjor, Bsba Fika Dalah, Babatunde Ademoye Sodipo, MustaphaIkhegbe Abubakar, Emmanuel Ibhagbemien Esene, Henry Adedayo Bello,  Boniface Chinedu Moore, Clement Amechi Ezika, 0mokayode Adebayo Dada, Edwin Anikwem and Roy Ogbonnaya Umahi Nwaeze.
    Also on the list are Olumide Oniyire Olugbenga, Monday Onyekachi Unani, Ayoola Olufemi Ajayi, Paul Chukwuma Obi, Olasupo Dominic Ati-John, Cole Segun Ololade, Charles Ayodeji Adeogun-Phillips, 0kechukwu Kingsley Abundance, Ikechukwu Kings, Jacob Ocheogbu Ifere, Emmanuel Aderemi Adekile, Christopher Ehumadu Okeke and Oluronke Adeyemi.
    The list also comprises Oluwole Olawale Afolabi, Toboukebide Kekemeke, Akinbamigbe Adesomoju, Victor Owarienomare Odjemu, Josiah Ojochide Daniel-Ebune, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, Abdulaziz Enebi Ibrahim, Stanley Chidozie Imo, Charles Oladipo Titiloye, Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Kingsley Chuku and Adeyinka Oluwaseun Aderemi.
    Others include Olaolu Akintunde Owolabi, Adedeji Sharafaderen Abdulkadir,
    1dowu Omotunde Benson, Kolawole James Olowookere, Chinasa Thelma Unaegbunam,
    Ademola Oluwawolemi Esan, Omosanya Atilola Popoola, Taiye Ayotunde Oniyide
    Emonye Oga Adekwu, Aderemi Oguntoye, Kashopefoluwa Olawale Balogun, Abdul Adamu and Theodore Okechukwu.
    Also picked are RILWAN Birnin-Kebbi Umar, Chinenye Ifeanyichukwu Okafor,
    Kaka Sheila Lawan, Abba Muhammed, Wendy Nwenenda Kuku, Ekele Enyinnaya Iheanacho, 0kechukwu George Ekele,  Akinyemi Oliwole Olujinmi and Gyang Yaya Zi and 1dris Abubakar and George Ibrahim.
    The rest are Boonyameen Babajide Lawal, Terkaa Jeremiah Aondo, Tochukwu Peter Tochukwu, Uchenna Uzo Njoku, Paul Babatunde Daudu, Chukwudi Kachukwu Enebeli, Yusuf Olatunji Ogunrinde, Tobechukwu Kenechukeu Nweke, Ademola Kamardeen Abimbola, Yunus Abdulsalam, Mofesomo Ayodej Tayo-Oyetibo and Chukwuemeka Agamadodaigwe Nnawuvhi. The only successful academic applicant is Profesdor Gamu Oke Adeyemi.

  • Ozekhome’s Kidnappers Bag 20 Years Imprisonment

    Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has sentenced the kidnappers of Prof Mike Ozekhome and and Delta Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha and others to 20 years imprisonment.

    Their alleged offences are said to be punishable under sections 1(2)(f), 8(1)(b), 10, 15(1), 17, d 19 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011(as amended).

    The judgement, which was coming 10years after, had Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor convicted and sentenced for kidnapping and terrorism, which will commence from the date of their arrest.

    However, the court discharged and acquitted Michael Omonigho, a priest of a shrine, who was arraigned along with the convicts.

    According to the Judge, some of the 13-count charge for which the convicts were arraigned carry life imprisonment but she had to use her discretion to sentence them to 20 years imprisonment.

    Justice Nyako ordered the transfer of the convicts from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the correctional centre to serve their imprisonment.

    Earlier before the sentencing, the convicts prayed Justice Nyako for mercy in the sentencing saying that, they have never been convicted for any offence before now.

    The first convict. Kelvin Eziegbe specifically pleaded the court for mercy in the sentencing because of his health challenges which he had been battling with since the past ten years he had been in the custody of the DSS.

    While the counsel to the convicts, Mr. Bala Dakum joined the convicts in pleading for mercy in the sentencing, the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu reminded the court of the gravity of the offences for which the convicts were convicted.

    Speaking shortly after the judgement, Counsel Onuegbu expressed gratitude for the judgement as she said it will serve as a deterrent to other criminals that the office of the criminal justice act are working.

    Ahmed Tijani counsel to the fourth defendant in the charge sheet, Haruna Momoh, who was said to have escaped from custody said his client, slammed with a five-count charge, bordering on kidnapping and terrorism did not escape from lawful custody.

    The court had, in the judgement told the DSS to find, arrest and arraign the 4th defendant to face his trial, a directive Tijani said, will be addressed, “When we get to the bridge”.

    Charges against the convicts, who were docked in 2023 include, conspiracy to commit terrorism act to include kidnapping, accessory to act of terrorism, inciting persons to commit act of terrorism, recruitment, escape and abetting escape.

    The duo of Eziegbe and Azuekor were, accused in counts two and three of conspiracy to commit terrorism act of murder by shooting and killing five police officers and two prison officials; commuting of intentional murder by shooting to killing five police officers and two prison officials.

    Azuekor was accused, in count seven, of escaping with others from lawful custody when the prison vehicle in which they were being conveyed to court was allegedly attacked by Eziegbe and others.

    Michael Omonigho was accused, in counts 12 and 13 of acting as the group’s herbalist by providing “spiritual and moral support” to it, and failing to reporting the groups activities to security agencies.