Nineteen lawyers were today cleared for elevation to the status of senior advocates of Nigeria by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. The Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court; Mr. Usman Musale, made this known to newsmen in his office at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja..

Mr Musale stated that the body charged with the responsibility of appointing Senior Advocates of Nigeria led the Chief Justice of Nigeria; Justice Aloysius Katsina – Alu, met today in Abuja and considered the applications made by applicants for the conferment of Senior Advocates of Nigeria for year 2009.

A total of 126 legal practitioners and academics applied for the senior advocates rank. Of these, 19 are Academics while 107 were legal practitioners. The Privileges Committee accepted the applications of 19 applicants in accordance with the guidelines for the conferment of the senior advocates rank.

The other successful applicants are Nella Andem – Ewa, Joseph A. Nwobika, Offiong Effiong Bassey, Sylvia Shinaba, Dorothy Udeme Ufot, Francis Dike, Chukwuma Uchenna Ekomaru, Arthur Obi Okafor, Etigwa Owa, Jadegoke Adebanjo Badejo, Abiodun Ishola Layonu, Adekunle Babatunde Ogunba, George Oguntade, C. O. Toyin Pinheiro, Olusina R. Sofola, Samuel Mosugu, Andrew I. Chukwuemerie and Fabian Ikenna Ajogwu.

The swearing in of the successful applicants by the Chief Justice of Nigeria has been fixed for April 12th, 2010 at the Supreme Court complex, Abuja.

The Chief Registrar also stated that the form for the 2010 aspirants will be on sale from April. He said that a new committee has been set up to review the guidelines for the conduct of the 2010 batch.