In a landmark achievement for the legal profession and Oyo State’s ATISBO Local Government Area, Taiwo Azeez Hassan has been elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), becoming the first indigene of the local government area to attain the honour. He is one of the 57 legal practitioners approved for elevation by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) at its 169th plenary session held on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
The announcement was made under the chairmanship of the Hon. Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, GCON. The conferment of the SAN rank is regarded as the highest honour in the Nigerian legal profession, awarded to lawyers who have distinguished themselves either in courtroom advocacy or through significant academic contributions to legal scholarship.
Taiwo Azeez Hassan, whose roots trace back to the Olojo Compound in Ago-Are, is the son of the late Alhaji Azeez Oloyede, a prominent politician from Ago-Are. His journey to the peak of legal recognition began with a solid academic foundation — he earned his LL.B. from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, where he was called to the Bar.
He began his legal career at the Abuja-based top-tier law firm of Hassan Liman, SAN, where he honed his skills under one of Nigeria’s most respected legal minds. In 2019, he took a bold step and founded his own practice, Taiwo Hassan Oloyede & Associates, which has since grown into a respected firm in its own right.
The LPPC also disclosed that three petitions submitted against some applicants were reviewed and found to lack merit, leading to their dismissal. As part of the elevation process, all successful applicants are required to attend and complete the mandatory Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme, in accordance with the directives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN). This programme is a precondition for the formal conferment of the SAN title.
Furthermore, the Committee emphasized strict compliance with Paragraph 25(1) of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Guidelines and Rule 39(3) of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2023, which prohibit SAN nominees from publishing or encouraging the publication of congratulatory messages or advertisements related to their nomination or conferment. Violations, the LPPC warned, could attract disciplinary sanctions.
The official Swearing-In Ceremony for Taiwo Azeez Hassan and the other 56 successful applicants is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 29, 2025.
This milestone not only marks a personal triumph for Taiwo Azeez Hassan but also a moment of pride for the people of Ago-Are and the entire ATISBO Local Government Area — a testament to perseverance, professionalism, and excellence in legal practice.
