OLAMIDE EHINFUN-ADEKUNLE BECOMES NIGERIA’S YOUNGEST FEMALE SAN AT 40

Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Ehinfun-Adekunle has become Nigeria’s youngest female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) after being elevated to the rank at the age of 40.

Ehinfun-Adekunle, a partner at Afe Babalola & Co., was among 68 legal practitioners sworn in by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on October 12, 2026, during a special session of the Supreme Court to mark the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee had approved her elevation on July 23, 2026. Four women were among the newly admitted Senior Advocates, according to the Nigerian Bar Association.

Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi congratulated Ehinfun-Adekunle on her achievement, describing her as his mentee. He recalled meeting her when she was a fresh law graduate at the Nuhu Ribadu Presidential Campaign Office in Abuja around 2010 or 2011.

Ehinfun-Adekunle studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, from 2003 to 2009 before attending the Nigerian Law School between 2009 and 2010. She later obtained a Master of Laws degree in International Trade Law from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

She joined Afe Babalola & Co., also known as Emmanuel Chambers, as a partner in September 2013. Her areas of practice include complex litigation, commercial dispute resolution, oil and gas, arbitration, election petitions, and regulatory compliance. She has also appeared before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

Following her elevation, Ehinfun-Adekunle spoke about challenges facing Nigeria’s justice system, particularly delays in trials and the financial burden prolonged litigation places on litigants.

She called for judicial financial autonomy, compliance with court orders, and the development of specialised commercial courts as part of efforts to improve justice delivery.