Lawyers and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s justice system have been urged to uphold integrity and professionalism ahead of the 2027 general elections by promoting voter education, ensuring proper interpretation of electoral laws and protecting citizens’ constitutional right to choose their leaders.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kwara State Chief Judge Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara and former Nigerian Bar Association President Yakubu Maikyau made the call in Abuja at an investiture dinner honouring Mohammed Adelodun, who was recently conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), one of the country’s highest professional distinctions for legal practitioners.
Maikyau, who hosted the event through his law firm, Y.C. Maikyau & Co., stressed that lawyers had a critical responsibility to interpret electoral laws accurately and help citizens understand their constitutional rights.
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He urged legal practitioners to advise clients and voters honestly, emphasising that their professional expertise should support credible elections and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“Lawyers are the guidance of every society, and the business of election is the business of law. It is for them to be honest in deploying that understanding, that expertise, and guide the people on how to exercise their constitutional franchise to choose those who will lead them,” Maikyau said.
Beyond electoral integrity, Maikyau praised Adelodun’s professional journey, describing his elevation to SAN as a remarkable achievement.
He noted that Adelodun’s father, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had entrusted him to his law firm more than a decade ago, where he trained and built his legal career outside his father’s chambers.
“For someone who came to the office as a young man, and a couple of years later, we are celebrating him for the conferment of the highest and prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, for me, it is quite remarkable,” Maikyau remarked.
He also encouraged younger lawyers to combine faith with diligence, emphasising that professional success required consistent effort and commitment.
Speaking at the event, Saraki described Adelodun’s elevation as recognition of his professional competence, humility and knowledge.
He maintained that the new SAN had earned the distinction through hard work rather than family connections, adding that his achievement had brought pride to Kwara State.
“Over the years, honestly, he has impressed me with his humility, his capacity, his knowledge. He has worked for this,” Saraki observed.
He rejected suggestions that Adelodun’s family background explained his success, stressing that the new SAN had established his own professional reputation.
“Many might think he has got it because he is Adelodun. No, he has got it because he is Mohammed,” Saraki stressed.
Saraki expressed hope that Adelodun’s achievement would inspire younger people from Kwara State to pursue excellence in the legal profession.
He added that the state had produced successful legal practitioners over the years and could continue to contribute to Nigeria’s justice system.
In his goodwill message, Kwara State Chief Judge Justice Abiodun Ayodele Adebara described Adelodun’s elevation as a historic achievement for his family.
“Twenty years ago, he attained the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and today, remarkably, 20 years later, in 2026, his own son, biological son, Mohammed Adelodun, SAN, is conferred with the same prestigious title,” Justice Adebara noted.
The Chief Judge prayed that Adelodun would continue to receive the wisdom needed to excel in his legal career and expressed hope that the new SAN’s children would surpass his achievements.
Responding, Adelodun explained that attaining the SAN rank was not the result of a calculated shortcut but of consistent professional conduct, courtesy and continuous learning.
He emphasised that legal excellence depended on daily choices and a commitment to delivering the best possible service.
“I think it is who you are every day. It is the lifestyle you adopt. It is a choice you make every day that you wake up to do your work and do it the best you can,” Adelodun explained.
He also urged lawyers to avoid misconduct that could damage public confidence in the legal profession.
Adelodun warned that negative publicity surrounding some legal practitioners could overshadow the efforts of judges and lawyers who worked diligently to uphold professional standards.
“If we keep doing the right things and avoid those things that make people cast aspersions on the legal profession, I think we will just be fine,” he reiterated.
Adelodun was among the 68 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on October 12, 2026.
The SAN rank recognises legal practitioners who have demonstrated outstanding professional competence and achievement.
