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Justice Kekere-Ekun Inducts 87 New Senior Advocates Of Nigeria
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday inducted 87 legal professionals into the distinguished rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
The event marked her first official duty since her recent swearing-in as the country’s 23rd Chief Justice by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing the newly inducted SANs, Justice Kekere-Ekun urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and professional ethics, which are paramount to their new role.
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She highlighted the significance of their position as leaders in the legal community and reminded them that their conduct should reflect the values of justice and fairness.
The induction saw the conferment of the SAN title on 87 individuals, including notable figures such as Lateef Karim, Charles Adeogun-Phillips, and Professor Ganiyu Oke, further enhancing the pool of top-tier legal talent in the country.
Biztellers recalls that Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun was formally sworn in earlier today by President Bola Tinubu as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria, in a ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.
The event, attended by notable dignitaries, included her predecessors, Justice Alooma Muktar, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and Justice Walter Onnoghen, as well as the current Chief Justice, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The swearing-in, which took place at the Council Chambers of the State House, followed her confirmation by the Senate last Wednesday, officially marking her as the head of Nigeria’s judiciary.
Full List of Newly Inducted SANs:
Here is the list of newly inducted Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs):
1. Lateef Karim, Esq.
2. Godwin Ike, Esq.
3. Johnson Odionu, Esq.
4. Nnodim Duru, Esq.
5. Innocent Ovbagbedia, Esq.
6. Soronnadi Njoku, Esq.
7. Adamu Abubakar, Esq.
8. Charles Musa, Esq.
9. Udochi Iheanacho, Esq.
10. David Onietan, Esq.
11. Elele Casmir, Esq.
12. Josiah Nduka, Esq.
13. Godwin Obeta, Esq.
14. Habeeb Ilavbare, Esq.
15. Moses Obafemi, Esq.
16. Mathew Esonanjor, Esq.
17. Baba Dalah, Esq.
18. Babatunde Sodipo, Esq.
19. Mustapha Abubakar, Esq.
20. Emmanuel Esene, Esq.
21. Henry Bello, Esq.
22. Boniface Moore, Esq.
23. Clement Ezika, Esq.
24. Omokayode Dada, Esq.
25. Edwin Anikwem, Esq.
26. Roy Nwaeze, Esq.
27. Olumide Olugbenga, Esq.
28. Monday Ubani, Esq.
29. Ayoola Ajayi, Esq.
30. Paul Obi, Esq.
31. Olasupo Ati-John, Esq.
32. Cole Ololade, Esq.
33. Charles Adeogun-Phillips, Esq.
34. Okechukwu Ajunwa, Esq.
35. Jacob Ifere, Esq.
36. Emmanuel Adekile, Esq.
37. Christopher Okeke, Esq.
38. Oluronke Adeyemi, Esq.
39. Oluwole Olawale Afolabi, Esq.
40. Toboukebide Kekemeke, Esq.
41. Akinbamigbe Adesomoju, Esq.
42. Victor Owarienomare Odjemu, Esq.
43. Josiah Ojochide Daniel-Ebune, Esq.
44. Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, Esq.
45. Abdulaziz Enebi Ibrahim, Esq.
46. Stanley Chidozie Imo, Esq.
47. Charles Oladipo Titiloye, Esq.
48. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar, Esq.
49. Kingsley Chuku, Esq.
50. Adeyinka Oluwaseun Aderemi, Esq.
51. Olaolu Akintunde Owolabi, Esq.
52. Adedeji Sharafadeen Abdulkadir, Esq.
53. Idowu Omotunde Benson, Esq.
54. Kolawole James Olowookere, Esq.
55. Chinasa Thelma Unaegbunam, Esq.
56. Ademola Oluwawolemi Esan, Esq.
57. Omosanya Atilola Popoola, Esq.
58. Taiye Ayotunde Oniyide, Esq.
59. Emonye Oga Adekwu, Esq.
60. Aderemi Oguntoye, Esq.
61. Kashopefoluwa Olawale Balogun, Esq.
62. Abdul Adamu, Esq.
63. Theodore Ezeobi, Esq.
64. Rilwan Umar, Esq.
65. Chienye Okafor, Esq.
66. Kaka Lawan, Esq.
67. Abba Muhammed, Esq.
68. Wendy Kuku, Esq.
69. Ekele Iheanacho, Esq.
70. Okechukwu Edeze, Esq.
71. Akinyemi Olujinmi, Esq.
72. Gyang Yaya Zi, Esq.
73. Idris Abubakar, Esq.
74. George Ibrahim, Esq.
75. Boonyameen Lawal, Esq.
76. Terkaa Aondo, Esq.
77. Tochukwu Tochukwu, Esq.
78. Uchenna Njoku, Esq.
79. Paul Daudu, Esq.
80. Chukwudi Enebeli, Esq.
81. Yusuf Ogunrinde, Esq.
82. Tobechukwu Nweke, Esq.
83. Ademola Abimbola, Esq.
84. Yunus Abdulsalam, Esq.
85. Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo, Esq.
86. Chukwuemeka Nnawuchi, Esq.
87. Prof. Ganiyu Oke
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.
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