Saraki Petitions CJN to Block SAN Conferment on Kwara Attorney‑General, Alleges Abuse of Criminal Justice System

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun, who chairs the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), urging to halt the proposed conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Sulyman Ibrahim, the Attorney‑General and Commissioner for Justice of Kwara State.

In the petition dated May 25, 2026, Saraki accused Ibrahim of weaponising the criminal justice system for political persecution, alleging conduct incompatible with the honour and integrity required of Nigeria’s highest legal distinction. He argued that Ibrahim’s actions fall short of the standards of integrity, honour, and professional ethics expected of any lawyer seeking elevation to SAN.

Saraki specifically referenced the 2018 Offa bank robbery case, claiming Ibrahim filed baseless criminal charges against him despite the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) having previously cleared him of wrongdoing. He described the charges as malicious prosecution, abuse of constitutional powers, and a violation of due process, designed to embarrass him publicly and damage his political reputation.

According to Saraki, the charges were timed to inflict reputational harm, noting that he was neither invited for questioning nor confronted with allegations before court processes were pasted on his residence in Ilorin. He urged the CJN to scrutinise Ibrahim’s candidacy rigorously, stressing that the SAN rank must never be conferred on practitioners who use state prosecutorial machinery for personal or political vendettas.

Saraki also filed an affidavit before the Kwara State High Court in support of his petition. Meanwhile, the Kwara State Government had in April filed a 20‑count charge against Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, former Chief of Staff Yusuf Abdulwahab, and former aide Alabi Olalekan, alleging their involvement in arming suspects convicted in the Offa robbery.

The LPPC recently shortlisted 89 applicants for the prestigious SAN conferment.

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