SAN earned with hard work, not by joining cult — Ebonyi commissioner

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Education, Tertiary Institutions, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Amari Omaka, stated on Tuesday that those in the legal profession aspiring to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)must earn it by fulfilling all required criteria, debunking the notion that joining a cult group is necessary to attain this title.

In a conversation with journalists, Prof. Omaka, SAN, noted that many current lawyers desire quick wealth and are unwilling to dedicate themselves to the profession. Instead, they aspire to become senators, members of the House of Representatives, local government chairpersons, and coordinators. He observed that such distractions prevent them from achieving their goals in law.

Omaka, a Professor of Environmental, Water, and Natural Resources Law and the first SAN from Ebonyi State, said that becoming a SAN requires rigorous dedication. He stated that one must have appeared in high court for 20 judgments, adding that some highly skilled lawyers have yet to argue a case in the appeal court.

He said, “One of the rarest achievements for lawyers is to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) because that is the highest position and the dream of every lawyer, whether in academia or advocacy. To be a SAN, you must have distinguished yourself in court practice or academics and must have practised law for more than 10 years.

“You must have impeccable character. Before being conferred with this title, different NJCs conduct thorough investigations. You must possess a deep knowledge of the law, contribute to the legal profession’s progress either in court or through publications, and demonstrate leadership in the legal field, not political leadership.

“As an academic, you must have taught law as a professor for at least 10 years. You must have paid your practising fees for the five years preceding your SAN application and must show proof of Nigerian citizenship through a tax clearance for at least three years. Recommendations are essential; people must vouch that you have distinguished yourself as a competent practitioner—not in appearance, but in skill.

“For those in advocacy, you must demonstrate good conduct, have obtained 20 high court judgments, including election tribunal and military tribunal cases, and provide five judgments from the court of appeal and four from the supreme court. You must show an understanding of judicial proceedings from the lower courts to the apex court in Nigeria.

“My advice to our people is that achieving this is possible. I was proud when I went to Abuja to celebrate two new SANs. It was one of my best days. Humility, hard work, determination, and focus are essential. Unfortunately, some of our people rush into politics right after being called to the bar.

“They want to be senators, members of the House of Representatives, local government chairpersons, and coordinators. With such a path, how can they achieve this goal? If you want to accomplish anything in life, stay focused. My advice to those aspiring to reach this milestone is to stay dedicated to their area of law and strive to make a meaningful impact.

“These are the attributes needed to achieve it. Money isn’t everything. I may not have a lot of money, but wherever I go, people recognize my presence. Stay focused—don’t jump from one thing to another if you want to reach the prestigious level of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).”