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Sunday, October 19, 2025

I Desire To See More Civil Servants Become Senior Advocates ––Erebe

BY RITA OYIBOKA

The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe (SAN), has urged public service lawyers to aim for professional excellence, stressing that his greatest joy would be to see more civil servants like himself attain the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Speaking with The Pointer following his recent elevation to the prestigious rank, Erebe said it was once “almost unthinkable” for a civil servant to become a Senior Advocate in Nigeria.

“In the legal profession, the thought that a civil servant could become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was almost unthinkable. Out of roughly 200,000 lawyers in Nigeria, there are fewer than 1,000 Senior Advocates, less than one per cent. So, for a lawyer in civil service, it seemed impossible,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey, Erebe expressed gratitude to the various Attorneys-General he had served under, “about 10 or 11 in total”, for their encouragement and support.

He particularly lauded his current boss, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejoro Ohwovoriole SAN, for pushing him beyond his comfort zone.

Erebe advised public service lawyers to adopt the mindset of private practitioners and maintain the same level of diligence and professionalism.

“Any lawyer who goes to court without a team is not doing well. You must brainstorm and anticipate arguments from the other side. And please, remove the mentality that being a civil servant means lower standards.

‘’Think and act like a private practitioner. Run your cases diligently. When you appear in court, lawyers should know you came to argue your case, not to seek an adjournment,” he said.

The Solicitor-General, who was mentored by the late Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), among other learned silks, described his recognition as proof that excellence in public service is achievable.

“Public service lawyers are often underappreciated, but we do tremendous work. I’m grateful that my recognition has shown that excellence in public service is possible. I told them, ‘My joy will be when we produce more of me, more civil servants achieving this.’”

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