It is the equivalent of the rank of King's Counsel in the United Kingdom, as well as in South Australia, the Northern Territory, and Canada (except Quebec).
[1] The conferment is made in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Act 207 Section 5 (1) by the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee, headed by the chief justice (as chairman), and consist of the attorney general, one justice of the Supreme Court[2] (chosen by the chief justice and the attorney general for a term of two years, renewable on one occasion only), the president of the Court of Appeal, five of the chief judges of the states (chosen by the chief justice and the attorney general for a term of two years, renewable on one occasion only), the chief judge of the Federal High Court, and five legal practitioners who are senior advocates of Nigeria (chosen by the chief justice and the attorney general for a term of two years, renewable on one occasion only).
[3][4] Chief (Mrs.) Folake Solanke is the first female recipient of the rank of SAN, which was awarded to her in 1981.
Since 1975, a varying number of advocates in Nigeria have consecutively been conferred with the rank, with the exception of 1976, 1977 and 1994.
The conferment is however restricted to fewer than 30 advocates per annum and is made by the chief justice of Nigeria on the recommendations of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.