DSS Screening SANs: Tinubu Govt Moves to Silence Lawyers, Erode Judiciary — Lawyer
Former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumuyiwa Akinboro, has strongly criticised the planned screening of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) by the State Security Service (SSS), describing it as an attempt to muzzle the Bar and compromise its independence.
In a statement obtained by PulseNets on Monday, Mr. Akinboro reiterated that the conferment of the SAN rank remains a professional recognition, not a political favour.
“I have followed with keen attention the recent development requiring newly cleared Senior Advocates of Nigeria to undergo screening by the Department of State Services (DSS),” he said. “The conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a professional recognition, not a political favour. Subjecting SAN-designates to DSS screening undermines the independence of the Bar and the sanctity of due process. We must resist every attempt to muscle the profession.”
Intrusion into the Legal Profession
Mr. Akinboro told PulseNets that the conferment of the SAN rank is anchored in the Legal Practitioners Act and overseen exclusively by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC). He described the proposed SSS vetting as an intrusive step with no legal basis.
“To subject 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,” he noted.
Threat to the Autonomy of the Bar
The senior lawyer further stressed that the strength of the Bar has always been in its autonomy, warning that if such external interference is allowed, it could eventually erode the independence of Nigeria’s courts.
“The strength of the Bar has always been its autonomy. 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.”
Mr. Akinboro charged the Nigerian Bar Association, the LPPC, and the Body of Benchers to rise to the challenge and resist any move that threatens the profession’s independence.
“The Nigerian Bar Association, under our proactive president @afamosigwe, the LPPC, and the @bodyofbenchers must 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. To remain silent is to acquiesce, and acquiescence today may cost us the profession we hold dear tomorrow,” he declared.
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PulseNets learnt that in July, the LPPC unveiled the list of 57 newly elevated Senior Advocates of Nigeria, with the official swearing-in ceremony scheduled for September, following the mandatory pre-swearing-in induction programme.
Legal experts who spoke to PulseNets noted that the controversy surrounding DSS screening raises broader concerns about state interference in the judicial system and the future of the legal profession’s independence in Nigeria.
