SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DSS SCREENING OF NEW SAN DESIGNATES

Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, FCI Arb (UK), Life Bencher and Past General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, has expressed strong opposition to the recent requirement for newly cleared Senior Advocates of Nigeria to undergo screening by the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a statement, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro described the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria as a professional recognition rooted in the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and administered solely by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).

Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, said subjecting this process to external security vetting after rigorous scrutiny has already been undertaken by the LPPC is an intrusion that undermines both the independence of the profession and the sanctity of due process. “The strength of the Bar has always been its autonomy,” Akinboro emphasized. “If we allow institutions outside the profession to insert themselves into its core processes without legal basis, we open the door to a precedent that may one day compromise not only the rank of SAN but also the independence of our courts, our appointments, and ultimately, our ability to dispense justice without fear or favour,” Akinboro added.

The senior lawyer called on the Nigerian Bar Association, the LPPC, and the Body of Benchers to rise to this moment and defend the legal profession’s independence. “This is not about individuals; it is about protecting the very framework that gives legitimacy to the rule of law in our country,” Akinboro stressed. He further warned that remaining silent would amount to acquiescence, which could have long-term consequences for the profession. “To remain silent is to acquiesce, and acquiescence today may cost us the profession we hold dear tomorrow,” Akinboro cautioned.