By Our Reporter

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) has warned its members against the use of “Dr” title in professional settings after the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees.

Olumide Sofowora Esq, secretary of BOSAN, in a letter of Tuesday, 10th March, 2026, on behalf of the body said it has been inundated with complaints that some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) are attributing “undeserved titles” to themselves.
Sofowora said some SANs have started prefixing their names with “Doctor” when announcing their appearances in court after receiving honorary doctorate degrees.

Some SANs have even gone further to address themselves as “Professors” with honorary doctorate degrees.

BOSAN echoed the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) stoppage to the wrong use of honorary doctorate degrees, adding that the recipients cannot use the degrees to practice as scholars or for administrative purposes.

The letter regretted that “Some have been reported to be prefixing ‘Doctor’ to their names when announcing their appearance in Court soon after being conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees.

“Last month, the National Universities Commission issued the Guidelines for the award and use of Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Nigeria and stated clearly therein in item 13 on the ‘Usage’ of the honorary titles thus:
“The recipients are at liberty to use the approved nomenclature or title of the honorary doctorate degree such as Doctor of Law (honoris Causa) or LL.D. (h.c.) or D.Litt (h.c.) after their names. However, they are not permitted to use “Dr.”, which is reserved for holders of earned degrees and medical professionals.

Additionally, they are not permitted to use the honorary doctorate degree to practise as scholars or professionals, oversee administrative units, or supervise research work.

“The above clarification by the National Universities Commission cannot be more explicit and it is expected that our members will adhere to it.

“More concerning however is the fact that some members have even gone ahead to be addressing themselves as “Professors” after being conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees.

“I am therefore calling on our distinguished members of BOSAN to be mindful of the above admonition so that we do not breach the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners and subject ourselves to disciplinary measures should any of us be found to be according to himself or herself a title that he or she is not entitled to.
“That would amount to fraudulent misrepresentation and false claims to nobility which is a conduct incompatible with the dignity and honour of the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The resort to use of Dr, Prof or other titles by SANs, politicians and other members of the public, may be due to the quest for honour, recognition and or to boost one’s ego in a “Title inflation” society.
The unmerited use, wrongly gained privileges and the abuse of the titles all highlight the unfortunate pervasive perversion of all social strata including the upper middle class and, most unfortunately, among lawyers who belong to the privileged group in Nigeria called SANs. With the abuse of these titles gaining disturbing criminal traction, the urgent need to heed to the advice and admonitions of the National Universities Commission NUC to the public and BOSAN to its members cannot be overemphasized.

There is no alternative to the fact that those who cherish academic titles should take the right route to earn them.

By Our Correspondent

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has been asked to dismiss the ₦100.5 billion defamation suit instituted against Prof Zacharys Anger Gundu, VC of University of Mkar, Mkar by the Nasarawa State Government and Governor, Abdullahi Sule.

The request is contained in a notice of preliminary objection filed by the defendant through his legal team led by Sebastian Hon, SAN.

Gundu flawed the competence of the suit, marked FCT/HC/CV/3554/2025, and asked the court to decline jurisdiction, describing the case as frivolous and an abuse of court process.

The legal team said the claimants did not comply with a mandatory condition precedent required for the validity of the originating processes, as stipulated under Order 2 Rule 8 of the FCT High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2025.

This faulty premise, the alleged non-compliance, the team asserted, renders the suit procedurally defective and liable to be struck out.

By Son Tertsea, Abuja

The Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) has called on members of the public to offer comments on 48 candidates shortlisted for appointment as Justices of the Court of Appeal from 12 states of the federation.

The Commission also revealed that the new policy is aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in the appointment process of Judicial Officers to Superior Courts of Record. This was contained in a national newspaper on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Accordingly, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the States Judicial Service Commission, and the Judicial Service Committee of the FCT shall always publish the names of shortlisted candidates for appointment as Judicial Officers in National Newspapers for public comments.

“The primary objective of this initiative is to solicit comments from the general public regarding the integrity, reputation and suitability of these candidates for Judicial appointments,”.

List Of Shortlisted Candidates By State.
The following candidates have been recommended to the Federal Judicial Service Commission by the Court of Appeal for appointment as Justices of the Court:

BENUE STATE
1 Hon. Justice Ibrahim I. Mohammed High Court, Benue State
2 . Hon. Justice Augustine I. Tyonyiman, High Court, Benue State
3 . Hon. Justice Ijohor Mbalamen Jennifer, High Court, Benue State
4 . Hon. Justice Dennis Mbanenga Igyuse High Court, Benue State

PLATEAU STATE

1. Hon. Justice Jacob Azi Atsen, Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State
   2 . Hon. Justice Veronica Julcit Dadom Customary Court of Appeal, Plateau State
   3 . Hon. Justice Stephen Dalyop Pam Federal High Court
   4 . Hon. Justice Nankwat Dawat Shaseet High Court, Plateau State GOMBE STATE
   1 . Hon. Justice Abdulhameed Mohammed Yakubu High Court, Gombe State
   2 . Hon. Justice Suleiman Yahaya Abubakar High Court, Gombe State
   3 . Hon. Justice Mohammed Auwal Haruna, High Court, Gombe State
   4 . Hon. Justice Daurabo Suleiman Sikkam, High Court, Gombe State

TARABA STATE
1 . Hon. Justice Nuhu Swuenti Adi High Court, Taraba State
2 . Hon. Justice Rosemary Indinya Kanyip FCT High Court
3 . Hon. Justice Danladi John Yakubu High Court, Taraba State
4 . Hon. Justice Dauda Njane Buba High Court, Taraba State

KATSINA STATE

1. Hon. Justice Sanusi Kado National Industrial Court of Nigeria
   2 . Hon. Justice Safiya Badamasi Umar, SAN, High Court, Katsina State
   3 . Hon. Kadi Adam Salihu Yarima Sharia Court of Appeal, Katsina State
   4 . Hon. Justice Ibrahim Abubakar Maude High Court, Katsina State

KEBBI STATE
1 . Hon. Justice Sabiu Bala Shuaibu, High Court, Kebbi State
2 . Hon. Justice Maryam Aliyu Hassan FCT High Court
3 Hon. Justice Abubakar Saddiq Bello, High Court, Kebbi State
4 . Hon. Justice Shamsudeen Ja’afar, High Court, Kebbi State

EBONYI STATE

1. Hon. Justice Vincent Nwali Nwanchor High Court, Ebonyi State
   2 . Hon. Justice Thelma Adanna Achom High Court, Ebonyi State
   3 . Hon. Justice Esther Awo Ota High Court, Ebonyi State
   4 . Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite Federal High Court

BAYELSA STATE
1 Hon. Justice Raphael Ajuwa High Court, Bayelsa State
2 Hon. Justice Ebiyerin Goodness Omukoro High Court, Bayelsa State
3 Hon. Justice Simon Wankiyei Amaduobogha High Court, Bayelsa State
4 Hon. Justice Patience Ama Zuode, High Court, Bayelsa State

CROSS RIVER STATE
1 . Hon. Justice Abua Elias Ojie, High Court, Cross River State
2 . Hon. Justice Emmanuel Aganpuye Ubua High Court, Cross River State
3 . Hon. Justice Ibitham Ukpai Abua High Court, Cross River State
4 . Hon. Justice Obo Awusa Obo High Court, Cross River State

EKITI STATE
1 . Hon. Justice Abodunde Monisola Oluwatoyin Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State
2 . Hon. Justice Jubril Babajide Kolajo Aladejana High Court, Ekiti State
3 .Hon. Justice Lucas Olukayode Ogundiora High Court, Ekiti State
4 .Hon. Justice Olusegu Isaac Ogunyemi High Court, Ekiti State

OGUN STATE

1. Hon. Justice James Kolawole Omotosho Federal High Court
   2 . Hon. Justice Ogunfowora Olugboyega High Court, Ogun State
   3 .Hon. Justice Yetunde Rukayat Pinheiro High Court, Lagos State
   4 . Hon. Justice Olufunke Sule-Amzat High Court, Lagos State

ONDO STATE
1 .Hon. Justice Oluyemi AkintanOsadebay High Court, Ondo State
2 . Hon. Justice Orimisan James Okoriko Customary Court of Appeal, Ondo State
3 . Hon. Justice Akinfemi Michael Owoyemi Customary Court of Appeal, Ondo State
4 . Hon. Justice Ademola Enikuomehin Customary Court of Appeal, Ondo State.

Key Guidelines For Public Participation*
The FJSC outlined the following guidelines for members of the public wishing to submit comments:
The Federal Judicial Service Commission invites members of the public to submit comments on the shortlisted candidates based on their integrity, reputation and suitability for Judicial Appointments.
All complaints or comments must be submitted in writing to the office of the Secretary of the Federal Judicial Service Commission or via email within fourteen (14) days from the date of this publication to:
The Secretary, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Supreme Court Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. Email Address: thefjscsecretariat@gmail.com Telephone No: 09081113572 ext: 5104

Each complaint/comment must be accompanied by a verifying affidavit deposed to by the author before a Superior Court of Record in Nigeria or before any Notary Public. The public is advised to guard against false and unsubstantial complaint/comment as there will be consequences.
Each complaint/comment must be precise and supported with sufficient particulars to enable the Federal Judicial Service Commission to determine accordingly.
For further information, members of the public are advised to contact the Federal Judicial Service Commission Secretariat, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Supreme Court Complex, Abuja, the statement added.