Nigerian Law Society Rejects CJN Ban on Barrister Title

The Nigerian Law Society has declared that a directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, banning the use of the title “Barrister” at the Supreme Court lacks statutory backing. The directive, communicated in a memo dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar, Kabir Akanbi, ordered legal practitioners and court officials to cease using “Barrister” as a prefix in all official engagements at the apex court. The memo stated the move was part of efforts to uphold professional standards, recommending “Esquire” or “Esq.” as the appropriate suffix.

Reacting through its Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the NLS argued that the Legal Practitioners Act of 1962 explicitly recognizes the titles of Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for lawyers called to the Bar. Jaja described the use of “Barrister” alone as a half-truth that omits the “Solicitor” designation, but emphasized that the alternative title “Esquire” does not appear in the 1962 Act. He added that neither the CJN, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, nor the Nigerian Bar Association has the power to regulate or impose titles not expressly stated in the statute.

The society further criticized what it termed hypocrisy in the judicial hierarchy’s stance on the “Blue Silks” rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN). The NLS noted that the LPPC and Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had previously insisted the SCN rank should be disregarded because it is not mentioned in the Legal Practitioners Act, unlike the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Jaja argued it is contradictory for the CJN and the Chief Registrar to ban a title expressly listed in the Act while imposing alternatives absent from any statute.

He also highlighted a discriminatory dimension, citing Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution. The NLS contends it is inconsistent to permit titles such as “Esquire” that lack statutory foundation while seeking to prohibit the Blue Silks rank, which is conferred by the Nigerian Law Society and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) under guidelines established pursuant to Section 40 of the Constitution and Section 19 of the National Assembly Service Commission Act, 2014.

Jaja traced the origin of the SAN rank to the British King’s Counsel tradition dating to the 1500s, noting that the title was not established by statute in the United Kingdom but by royal prerogative. He maintained that legal titles need not derive directly from legislation, pointing to the constitutional and statutory basis underpinning the Blue Silks framework.

The dispute underscores a broader tension over regulatory authority within the legal profession. As the directive takes effect, the profession awaits clarity on whether the Supreme Court will enforce the title change or whether the matter will be tested in court. The NLS has signaled its readiness to challenge any enforcement it views as ultra vires the Legal Practitioners Act.