The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 conferment of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title, with new non-refundable processing fees for prospective applicants.
In a statement issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and Secretary of the LPPC, Kabir Eniola Akanbi, the committee discloses that private legal practitioners will be required to pay a ₦5 million processing fee, while lawyers in government service will pay ₦2.5 million.
According to the statement, the application portal — www.lppconline.com — will open at 12:00 a.m. on November 1, 2025.
Applicants are expected to upload evidence of payment alongside clear, complete copies of all required documents. The committee warns that any incomplete or unclear submissions will be automatically rejected.
In addition to the online process, candidates must submit five flash drives containing their completed application forms and supporting documents to the LPPC Secretariat.
Academic applicants are further required to provide seven photocopies of their Curriculum Vitae (CV), Impact Statement, and a flash drive containing their published works.
It states that the deadline for online submissions is 12:00 noon on January 31, 2026, while the physical submission of flash drives must be completed by 4:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026. The LPPC emphasized that late submissions will not be entertained.
The statement further reveals that the SAN title remains the highest professional honour in Nigeria’s legal profession, awarded to lawyers who have demonstrated exceptional advocacy skills or notable academic contributions to the law.
However, the newly introduced fees have sparked criticism within the legal community. Former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, questioned the affordability of the charges, especially for public service lawyers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Odinkalu wrote: “Private applicants will pay ₦5 million, public servants ₦2.5 million. How is an honest public servant supposed to find this? Very soon, they will price SAN into extinction.”
The LPPC is yet to respond to the concerns raised over the new fee structure.
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 conferment of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title, with new non-refundable processing fees for applicants.
In a statement issued by Kabir Eniola Akanbi, Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court and LPPC Secretary, private legal practitioners are required to pay N5 million, while lawyers in government service will pay N2.5 million.
The application portal www.lppconline.com will open at 12:00 a.m. on November 1, 2025. Applicants must upload evidence of payment along with clear copies of all mandatory documents. Any unclear or incomplete submissions will be rejected.
Beyond the online submission, five flash drives containing the completed application form and all uploaded documents must be delivered to the LPPC Secretariat. Academic applicants are also required to submit seven photocopies of their CV and Impact Statement, plus a flash drive of their published works.
The deadline for online submissions is 12:00 noon on January 31, 2026, while all flash drives must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on February 2, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
The SAN title is the highest professional recognition for Nigerian lawyers, granted to those who have demonstrated excellence in legal advocacy or academic contribution.
The new fees have drawn criticism. Former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, questioned how honest public service lawyers are expected to afford the cost.
He wrote on X: “Private applicants will pay N5m. Public servants N2.5m. How is an honest public servant supposed to find this? Very soon, they will price SAN into extinction.”
