High-Stakes Legal Showdown: Saraki Seeks To Halt Kwara AG’s SAN Elevation

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), urging opposition to the proposed elevation of the Kwara State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Sulyman Ibrahim, to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The CJN chairs the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), the body responsible for awarding the prestigious SAN title.

In the petition, dated May 2026, Saraki argued that Ibrahim’s conduct in office falls below the standards of integrity, professionalism and ethical conduct expected of lawyers seeking admission into the Inner Bar.

He accused the attorney-general of using the state’s prosecutorial authority to pursue politically motivated cases against him, alleging that Ibrahim had brought the legal profession into disrepute by filing charges without a proper legal basis.

According to Saraki, his petition rests on two key allegations: malicious prosecution and abuse of constitutional powers, as well as the institution of what he described as frivolous criminal charges under the Penal Code in breach of due process.

The former Kwara State governor alleged that Ibrahim initiated criminal proceedings against him and two others over the 2018 Offa robbery despite an earlier decision by the Federal Government’s Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that reportedly cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Saraki further claimed the charges were strategically filed to embarrass him publicly, tarnish his reputation and undermine his political standing.

“The charges were deliberately timed and designed to cause grave public embarrassment, inflict reputational damage and maliciously de-market me politically,” he stated.

He also maintained that he was never invited by the police for questioning or confronted with any allegations before the charges were filed.

“Crucially, prior to the filing of this charge, I was neither invited by the police for questioning nor confronted with any allegations whatsoever,” the petition reads.

Saraki said he only became aware of the case after court documents were pasted on the gate of his Ilorin residence, directing him to appear before the court on June 10, 2026.

He urged the CJN and the LPPC to carefully scrutinise Ibrahim’s conduct before deciding on his suitability for the SAN rank.

“It is against this backdrop, and the applicant’s recurrent instances of gross abuse of power, that I respectfully urge you to thoroughly scrutinise his candidacy and consider his suitability before conferring such a revered privilege upon him,” Saraki said.

The former Senate President stressed that the SAN title should be reserved for lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding character, unwavering respect for the rule of law and a strong commitment to the administration of justice.

“The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is reserved exclusively for legal practitioners who have demonstrated exemplary character, absolute fidelity to the rule of law and an unyielding commitment to the due administration of justice. It must never be conferred upon a practitioner who uses state prosecutorial machinery to wage personal or political vendettas,” he stated.

Saraki also alleged that Ibrahim lacked the impartiality, fairness and integrity expected of the state’s chief law officer.

“By weaponising the criminal justice system for ulterior motives, Sulyman Ibrahim, Esq., has brought disrepute to the legal profession and shown that he lacks the emotional detachment, fairness and ministerial integrity expected of a minister in the temple of justice,” he added.

The petition is supported by an affidavit sworn to by Saraki before the Kwara State High Court.

In April, the Kwara State Government filed a 20-count charge against Saraki, former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Ahmed’s former Chief of Staff, Yusuf Abdulwahab, and former aide Alabi Olalekan over allegations of arming suspects convicted in connection with the Offa robbery.

The allegations remain before the court, and none of the defendants has been convicted.