Ojukwu Varsity Staff Celebrate Prof. Ubayionwu On Elevation To SAN
Some friends and colleagues of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University have congratulated Prof. Chima Ubanyionwu on his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).
Ubayionwu, a lecturer in the department of law and international jurisprudence was elevated to the rank of SAN in September this year alongside 56 others .
The COOU staff celebrated Ubayionwu on his feat as the only candidate from the academic community who was inducted to the SAN cadre of law practice in 2025 at a grand reception held for him on the University campus, Igbariam on Wednesday.
According to LPPC, promotion to SAN rank is a mark of professional excellence, awarded to legal practitioners who have demonstrated exceptional advocacy in the courts or made significant contributions to legal scholarship.
Prof. Stephen Unachukwu, his colleague in the faculty of law, said members of the COOU community were excited that the institution had produced SAN since its existence and was one of the few in the Southeast.
Unachukwu said unlike in the past when slots for the academic community used to be more than five, Ubayionwu clinched the only slot available describing it as ‘no mean feat’.
He said Ubayionwu was determined from the onset bagging a PhD in 2012 and becoming a professor of law in 2019 while Limited to one slot for profs per year only him in the country and one of first in Southeast
Prof. Okey Aniebo, a former vice chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, COOU said Ubayionwu provided free legal services to the union when they were needed but no funds to pursue them.
Aniebo said it was through the instrumentality of the new silk that impunity such unilateral appointment of HoDs and Deans were challenged and stopped.
“He effort was part of the reason the position of Vice Chancellor of COOU became subject to advertisement and due process of selection,” he said
On his part, Prof. Chike Osegbue, a professor of Political Science said Ubayionwu had provided pro bono services for members of ASUU whose money were trapped in wonder bank.
Osegbue, a candidate in the last Vice Chancellor selection process said members of COOU staff were happy to have a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and professor in their fold.
Prof. Chukwudi Okani of the College of Medicine appreciated members for honouring one of their own and prayed that more wins would come to the institution.
In his reaction, Ubayionwu said he started applying for SAN in 2021 andI was shortlisted but was not elevated due to limited chance until 2025.
He said he was motivated by the humiliation he got within the institution when a junior colleague was appointed a Head of Department ahead of him.
“That was when I started looking outside the University, so in 2018 I contested for NBA chairman and won .
“My advice is that we should not be blindfolded by this system because there is so much
we can achieve out there,” he said
