68 New SANs Joined Nigeria’s Inner Bar in 2026. Meet the Four Women Among Them

In Nigeria's legal profession, becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria is no small feat.

Not every lawyer who spends years in practice earns the title, which recognises professional standing, advocacy and contributions to the law.

In October 2026,68 people were sworn in as Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and four of them were women: Igonikon Abiola Adekunle, Olujoke Enitan Aliu, Soibi Ideriah Ovia and Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Ehinfun-Adekunle.

Their careers tell four different stories about the work behind the title.

Igonikon Abiola Adekunle

A tax assessment of about $231 million is a lot to contest. For Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), the dispute with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) eventually came down to a much smaller figure after negotiations during an appeal.

Igonikon Abiola Adekunle represented NLNG in the case. Her firm, TEMPLARS, reports that the assessment was reduced to approximately $3.25 million, saving the company more than 98 per cent of the original amount.

Adekunle joined TEMPLARS in 2008 and became a partner in 2016. One of the matters she worked on involved ExxonMobil and Shell in a dispute with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over crude oil entitlements.

The arbitration resulted in an award of more than $2.042 billion in favour of the oil companies. Adekunle was part of the legal team involved.

She now heads TEMPLARS' tax practice, handling disputes involving tax assessments and other complex commercial matters.

Olujoke Enitan Aliu

When Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara was shot dead in December 2004, his family was left seeking answers. Years later, the case reached the ECOWAS Community Court, where the family challenged the Gambian government's failure to investigate his murder effectively.

Olujoke Enitan Aliu represented members of Hydara's family in the proceedings. On 10 June 2014,the court ruled against The Gambia over its failure to investigate the killing effectively and ordered remedies for the applicants.

Aliu joined Aluko & Oyebode in 2003 as a first-year associate. Twelve years later, she became the firm's first female litigation partner. She was appointed co-managing partner in January 2023 and also heads its Abuja office.

Soibi Ideriah Ovia

Soibi Ideriah Ovia's professional profile documents her involvement in a dispute involving an international oil and gas company valued at approximately $25 million, alongside other commercial matters involving substantial sums.

Ovia is a founding partner at Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe, where she leads the litigation and dispute-resolution practice.Her work spans commercial and civil litigation, arbitration and mediation, including matters involving tax, contractual obligations and allegations of fraud.

She studied law at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, graduating in 2006, and qualified as a barrister in 2007. Her practice spans sectors such as banking, energy, telecommunications and intellectual property.

As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Ovia also works in a field that gives businesses an alternative to resolving disputes through conventional court proceedings.

Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Ehinfun-Adekunle

Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Ehinfun-Adekunle attained the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria at 40, making herthe youngest woman to receive the distinction.

In an interview with The Guardian, she recalled being a talkative child who sometimes got into trouble for standing up for other pupils at school. Stories her father told about prominent lawyers and politics in the old Western Region also helped shape her interest in the profession.

She studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University and gained early exposure to legal practice through an internship at a law firm while still a student. She later joined Afe Babalola & Co., where she is now a partner.

Her work includes litigation, arbitration, commercial disputes and election petitions.

Ehinfun-Adekunle has identifiedcourt delays as a major obstacle to access to justice. Long-running cases can increase legal costs and leave people waiting years for a resolution, making it harder for some to pursue claims they believe are justified.

She has also spoken about the need for law firms to support women through different stages of life, including maternity and raising young children. For a profession known for demanding hours, she argues that the environment in which lawyers work can shape how far they go.

All four women have reached a distinction that many lawyers spend years working towards. Their elevation in 2026 is a moment worth celebrating.

Congratulations to all four!.