Nigeria, Aug. 19 -- A former Secretary-General of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumuyiwa Akinboro, has criticised the security screening requirement imposed on Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)-designates, describing the move as an attack on the independence of the legal profession.

Mr Akinboro, himself a SAN, said in a post on his X handle on Monday that the screening exercise by the State Security Service (SSS) undermines due process and the autonomy of the Bar.

"The conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is not a political appointment, nor is it an executive privilege. To subject this process to external security vetting, after rigorous scrutiny has already been undertaken by the LPPC, is an intrusion that undermi...