…says 2027 elections should be decided at ballot
…NBA president, Kwankwaso, others congratulate him
Newly conferred Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Sagir Suleiman Gezewa, has pledged continued commitment to the administration of justice, promotion of the rule of law and mentorship of young lawyers, urging Nigerians to ensure that the 2027 general election is decided at the ballot rather than in court.
Gezewa made the pledge on Monday at a reception held in his honour in Abuja following his conferment with the rank alongside 67 other legal practitioners.
He said the recognition came with the responsibility to contribute to the development of the legal profession and the justice system.
“What Nigerians should expect from me is continuous dedication, continuous hard work in the administration of justice, in my support for the rule of law and in my support for our younger ones through mentorship,” he said.
The new SAN expressed concern over challenges facing the legal profession, particularly the need to sustain professional standards and improve legal practice in the country.
He pledged to uphold professional ethics, mentor younger lawyers and contribute to the continuous development of legal education and practice.
On the 2027 general election, Gezewa urged Nigerians to allow voters to determine the outcome through a free and fair process, while calling on political actors to respect the electorate’s decision.
“Let the election be determined at the ballot. Let Nigerians be allowed to express themselves freely and fairly, and let the actors also accept the will of Nigerians,” he said.
Gezewa also urged lawyers to uphold justice, fairness and the rule of law if electoral disputes eventually came before the courts.
Describing legal practitioners as ministers in the temple of justice, he called on them to ensure that their handling of election-related cases reflected the interests of justice and the nation.
On the growing competitiveness of the SAN rank, Gezewa said the conferment process should continue to reflect excellence.
He noted that Nigeria had more than 200,000 lawyers, while only a relatively small number had attained the prestigious rank.
He put the cumulative number of conferments since the rank’s inception at about 2,000, including deceased recipients, with more than 100 of them already dead.
The senior lawyer commended the body responsible for the selection process but called for sustained efforts to preserve and strengthen the standards required of applicants.
“Let the standard be maintained and let there be improvement, of course, in tightening the standards, so that we will produce the best as Senior Advocates of Nigeria,” he said.
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Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okunsanya; former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Lawal Shaibu, congratulated Gezewa on his elevation.
They described the achievement as a significant milestone in his legal career and urged him to use the honour to serve the legal profession and humanity.
Speaking at the reception, the NBA president wished Gezewa greater success and professional fulfilment, expressing hope that the new rank would bring him blessings and opportunities.
Justice Shaibu, in his goodwill message, recalled being impressed by Gezewa’s courtroom performance when the young lawyer appeared before him, adding that the new SAN had lived up to his expectations.
Drawing on his experience as chairman of a panel responsible for selecting candidates for the rank, Shaibu described the process as rigorous and Gezewa’s emergence as a remarkable achievement.
Also speaking on behalf of the family, Dr Manir Suleiman described the conferment as an emotional moment that brought back memories of their childhood and their late father.
He recalled meeting Gezewa when he was still in primary school and said their father had expressed great confidence in his future as he prepared for university admission.
Kwankwaso also congratulated Gezewa, whom he described as their son, and prayed that Almighty Allah would grant him wisdom, guide his career and ensure that his achievement benefited humanity.