2026 SAN Conferment Exercise: Lawyers Ask Court to Halt Process

The 2026 SAN conferment exercise has come under fresh legal scrutiny after an association of Nigerian non-litigation lawyers asked the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to stop the process pending the outcome of an appeal.

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) filed the suit on 25 June, arguing that the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) should not continue with the 2026 SAN conferment exercise because the dispute over legal professional ranks remains before the Court of Appeal.

The case marks the latest chapter in a dispute between ALDRAP and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), alongside the LPPC. The disagreement centres on ALDRAP’s proposed “Blue Silks” rank, which it says would recognise outstanding non-litigation lawyers as an alternative to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title.

Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja barred ALDRAP from conferring the Blue Silks rank. The association appealed that ruling before approaching the National Industrial Court.

In the latest suit, ALDRAP argues that the LPPC acted unlawfully by releasing a list of 89 shortlisted SAN candidates while the matter remains before the appellate court. It also claims the current SAN eligibility criteria discriminate against lawyers working in arbitration, mediation and legislative drafting rather than courtroom litigation.

The association further asks the court to invalidate the shortlisted candidates’ announcement, suspend every step in the SAN process, and order the LPPC to refund the ₦5 million application fee paid by each shortlisted applicant. In addition, it seeks ₦10 million in legal costs.

Meanwhile, ALDRAP maintains that non-litigation lawyers should be allowed to establish and confer professional ranks within their own fields, while the LPPC should limit the SAN title to litigation practitioners as provided under existing law.

The National Industrial Court has yet to fix a date for hearing the matter.