Former Governor of Lagos State and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, has been appointed a Bencher of Nigeria, marking a significant milestone in his distinguished legal and public service career.His elevation to the Body of Benchers places him among the most respected figures in Nigeria’s legal profession.
The Body of Benchers is the apex institution responsible for the formal call to the Bar, as well as the discipline and regulation of legal practitioners across the country.
Widely regarded as one of the highest honours in the legal field, the rank of Bencher is reserved for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional integrity, professional excellence, and sustained contributions to the development of the law. Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), fits squarely within this category, having built a reputation for diligence and intellectual depth both at the Bar and in public office.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Fashola’s career has spanned private legal practice and high-level governance. He served as Governor of Lagos State from 2007 to 2015, where he earned acclaim for institutional reforms and infrastructure development, before going on to serve as Minister of Works, Power and Housing, and later Minister of Works and Housing.
His appointment as a Bencher is seen as a recognition of his enduring influence in Nigeria’s legal and governance landscape. It also signals his continued relevance in shaping professional standards and mentoring the next generation of lawyers.