SANs renew push for Appeal, Supreme Court appointments

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, (BOSAN) has said it would continue to push for “senior members of the Bar, including those in the academia” to be appointed as Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

BOSAN said such appointments will broaden and enhance the work of the two appellate courts.

It stated this and more in a communiqué released after its virtual meeting on September 5, 2020 which was well attended by 129 SANs.

The statement was jointly signed by the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief ‘Folake Solanke, and BOSAN Secretary, Mr Seyi Sowemimo (SAN).

“We will continue to engage In wide consultations with all relevant stakeholders, in particular, the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Federal Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council, for the consideration of the appointment of senior members of the Bar, including those in the academia, who meet the constitutionally prescribed criteria, as Justices of the Appellate Courts, namely the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, in order to broaden and enhance the work of both courts”, BOSAN said.

The group further commended a presidential candidate in the last general elections of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN), for not going to court to challenge the outcome.

Adesina, who came third in the NBA presidential poll won by a non-SAN Mr Olumide Akpata, had described the election as a sham and called for its cancellation.

After his call for the cancellation of the poll was dismissed by the NBA Electoral Committee, Adesina petitioned the NBA Board of Trustees, which admitted that the election was not perfect but said it lacked the powers to cancel it.

It told Adesina that cancelling the election would not be in the best interest of the association.

BOSAN commended Deacon Adesina for his decision to accept the verdict of the Board of Trustees of the NBA on the 2020 NBA elections and not to contest the result of the said election in court.

Nevertheless, it said SANs were determined to ensure that NBA elections are flawless going forward, following which they constituted a five-man committee to audit the last three NBA elections from 2016.

The committee, to be chaired by Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), has Mr Osaro Eghobamien (SAN), Chief Yomi Aliu (SAN), Prof. Offornze Amucheazi (SAN) and Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) as members.

“The committee will work in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association”, BOSAN said.