Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Monday conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina and 56 other legal practitioners during a ceremony at the Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.
Presiding over the event marking the opening of the 2025/2026 Legal Year, Justice Kekere-Ekun charged the new SANs to uphold the dignity of the rank, describing it as a call to higher service and responsibility.
“This occasion is not merely a celebration of time passing, but a call to take stock, reflect on our challenges and achievements, and recommit ourselves to the ideals of justice, fairness, and service to the Nigerian people,” the CJN said.
She warned that the SAN privilege could be withdrawn if abused and urged the new appointees to use their status to promote justice and strengthen public confidence in the legal profession.
Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina, now formally admitted into the Inner Bar, is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished young legal minds.
Born in Kano to the late Engr. Gbadebo Timothy Adesina and the late Mrs. Funmilayo Oluwatoyin Adesina, he hails from Ogbomosho, Oyo State.
He graduated top of his class from the University of Jos in 2008, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2009, and later earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Banking and Finance Law from the University of London.
His 15-year legal career spans notable firms including Dele Olaniyan & Co., Templars, and Wole Olanipekun & Co., before co-founding Oyewole & Adesina, where he serves as Managing Partner.
His practice focuses on dispute resolution, commercial law, energy, and infrastructure projects. He has appeared in several landmark cases before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Adedayo played a key role in reform initiatives under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), including drafting the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (Omnibus Bill) and developing Practice Directions for Small Claims Courts across multiple states.
These efforts have improved access to justice and expedited commercial dispute resolution.
His contributions earned him recognition from former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for advancing Nigeria’s ease-of-doing-business reforms. Beyond litigation, Adedayo mentors young lawyers and contributes to scholarship on corporate governance, finance law, and judicial reform.
He is a Notary Public, a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, and an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), and BRIPAN.
Justice Kekere-Ekun used the ceremony to review the judiciary’s progress over the past year.
She reported that all pending petitions before the National Judicial Council (NJC) had been resolved, with sanctions imposed on erring judicial officers and exonerations granted to those unjustly accused.
“A serial frivolous petitioner was barred from filing further claims, and errant lawyers were referred to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), she added.
The CJN also highlighted the modernization of court operations. Court records were digitized, and departments were merged into a Court Records Processing Unit, significantly reducing missing files. A Central Information Unit and Case Continuation Unit were created to allow lawyers and litigants to track cases and monitor adjourned matters.
Justice Kekere-Ekun announced that the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS) will be rolled out nationwide, enabling e-filing of appeals and minimizing delays.
The Supreme Court’s Notary Public Unit is now fully automated, with an Electronic Notary Register (ENR) centralizing notary services.
The CJN reported that the Supreme Court considered 2,280 matters in the 2024/2025 Legal Year, including 560 appeals, and delivered 369 judgments, up from 247 the previous year.
On anti-corruption efforts, she commended the Corruption and Financial Crime Cases Trial Monitoring Committee (COTRIMCO) and noted that the EFCC secured 1,417 convictions in 2025, while the ICPC initiated 43 cases and secured nine convictions.
She also noted improvements in staff welfare, with salaries and allowances paid promptly, welfare packages enhanced, and constructive engagement with JUSUN helping to avoid strikes.
A reception in honour of Adedayo Adesina was later held at Centre Point Event Centre, Maitama, Abuja, attended by colleagues, friends, and dignitaries, including Attorney-General of the Federation Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Chairman of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Prof. Alfred Bandele Kasunmu, SAN; and NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
The elevation of Adedayo and his peers is widely celebrated as recognition of their exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s legal profession and justice system.
