Olamide Ehinfun-Adekunle Makes History as Nigeria’s Youngest Female Senior Advocate at 40

Olamide Mojigbotoluwa Ehinfun-Adekunle has emerged as Nigeria’s youngest female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reaching one of the country’s most prestigious legal ranks at the age of 40.

Ehinfun-Adekunle was one of 68 legal practitioners sworn in as SANs by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on October 12, 2026. The ceremony took place during the opening of the 2026/2027 legal year, with four women among the newly elevated advocates.

She was born on June 25, 1986, in Kaduna State and hails from Ijero-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Her academic journey in law began at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, where she pursued her Bachelor of Laws degree between 2003 and 2009.

After completing her studies at the Nigerian Law School from 2009 to 2010, she earned a Master of Laws degree in International Trade Law from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom between 2011 and 2012. She also belongs to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in the UK.

Her professional career included stints at D. D. Dodo & Co. and the Nuhu Ribadu Campaign Organisation before she joined Afe Babalola & Co. in September 2013.

She subsequently rose to become a partner at the law firm, building experience in complex litigation, commercial dispute resolution, oil and gas, arbitration, election petitions, transactional law and regulatory compliance. She has also appeared before both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee gave its approval for her elevation on July 23, 2026, paving the way for her formal inauguration as a Senior Advocate alongside 67 other legal practitioners on October 12.

Her path to the legal profession was reportedly influenced by experiences from her childhood. Her parents described her as talkative, a trait noted in her primary school reports. She also developed an interest in law through stories her father shared about politics in the old Western Region and the career of Chief Rotimi Williams, widely known as “Timi the Law”.

Throughout her career, she has drawn inspiration from several prominent personalities, including Aare Afe Babalola, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Kehinde Ogunwumiju and Pastor R. A. Ogunwole.

In addition to her legal work, Ehinfun-Adekunle has highlighted persistent challenges within Nigeria’s justice system. She has particularly expressed concern over delays in the administration of justice and the financial strain that lengthy court proceedings place on individuals and businesses.

Her elevation marks a significant milestone in her legal career and adds her name to the growing number of women attaining senior positions within Nigeria’s legal profession.

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