LPPC opens applications for 2027 SAN rank, sets N5m, N2.5m fees

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee has invited applications for the 2027 conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, fixing a non-refundable processing fee of N5m for private legal practitioners and N2.5m for government-employed lawyers.

The committee announced that its application portal would open to the public on November 1, 2026, at midnight, with all application procedures to be conducted online through its official website, www.lppconline.com.

The notice was issued pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act and Paragraphs 10(1)–(4) of the 2022 Guidelines for the award of the rank.

According to the notice on Wednesday, applicants are required to pay the prescribed processing fee directly into the committee’s designated accounts with Zenith Bank or Guaranty Trust Bank.

The notice was signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Eniola Akanbi.

“The designated Zenith Bank account number is 1014103141, while the GTBank account number is 0213662834.

“Candidates must upload evidence of payment to the application portal for verification. The LPPC Secretariat will subsequently send a confirmation email, after which applicants can proceed with their online applications.

“The committee directed all applicants, including legal practitioners seeking the rank through advocacy and academia, to upload clear and legible copies of all mandatory and supporting documents.

“Academic applicants are also required to submit seven physical photocopies each of their curriculum vitae and impact statement, alongside the required flash drives,” it noted.

In addition, every applicant must submit “five flash drives containing a copy of the completed application form downloaded from the portal and copies of all mandatory and supporting documents uploaded during the application process.”

The LPPC fixed midnight on “January 31, 2027, as the deadline for online applications, while the required flash drives must reach its secretariat before 4pm on February 1, 2027.”

It warned that “applications that fail to comply with the prescribed guidelines or are submitted after the stipulated deadlines will be rejected and treated as non-submissions.”

Applicants seeking further information were directed to contact the secretariat through [email protected].

The announcement comes weeks after Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, swore in 68 legal practitioners as Senior Advocates of Nigeria during a special session of the Supreme Court marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year on October 12, 2026.

The new recipients comprised 67 advocates and one academic, Professor Nnamdi Onyeka Obiaraeri.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee had approved their elevation at its 174th plenary session held in July.