Court Rejects ‘Blue Silk’ Title for Lawyers, Affirms SAN as Only Recognised Legal Honour

By Correspondent in Abuja.

Court says no to Blue Silk Title For Lawyers,Upholds SAN as Sole Recognised Honour.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday struck out a suit seeking legal backing for the conferment of the controversial “Blue Silk” rank on legal practitioners in Nigeria, declaring that only the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is recognised under the nation’s laws.

Delivering judgment in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/421/2026, Justice James Omotosho held that the action instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners and Dr Tonye Jaja lacked merit and could not stand in law.

The judge ruled that the applicants had no legal authority to create or confer any alternative rank within the Nigerian legal profession, insisting that the profession is strictly regulated by statute and cannot be subjected to personal or group interests.

“The legal profession is not like joining a political party wherein one can jump from party to party.

“There is only one legal profession in Nigeria duly recognised by statute; thus a person cannot decide to form his own legal profession as same would be contrary to the law and therefore void,”Justice Omotosho declared.

The court further held that the applicants’ attempt to confer the “Blue Silk” rank on lawyers was unlawful, invalid and not recognised by any existing law governing legal practice in the country.

Justice Omotosho dismissed the applicants’ argument that their fundamental rights to freedom of association and fair hearing had been breached, stressing that constitutional rights could not be used as a shield to violate statutory provisions regulating the legal profession.

“The applicants cannot hide under fundamental rights to breach statutory provisions. “This court will not allow it,” the judge said.

He added that the applicants failed to establish any infringement of their constitutional rights and consequently dismissed all the reliefs sought in the suit.

The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the applicants from conferring the “Blue Silk” title or any similar rank on legal practitioners in Nigeria outside the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act.

Justice Omotosho reaffirmed that the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) remains the only legally recognised body empowered to confer the prestigious SAN rank on deserving lawyers.

The suit arose after disciplinary concerns were reportedly raised against Dr Jaja over the promotion of the “Blue Silk” title, which the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described as unlawful and unrecognised.

The applicants had sued the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association, its General Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, the Secretary of the LPPC, Mr Kabir Akanbi, alongside the LPPC and the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

Among other reliefs, the applicants sought a declaration that the respondents violated their rights to freedom of association under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

They also demanded N50 million compensation, a public apology in two national newspapers and an additional N5 million as litigation costs.

However, the respondents urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the applicants lacked statutory powers to create or bestow any legal rank outside the recognised SAN structure.

In its verdict, the court sided with the respondents, bringing an end to the legal battle over the controversial “Blue Silk” title and reinforcing the exclusivity of the SAN rank in Nigeria’s legal profession.

The Reporters gathered that in the legal profession, the term “Blue Silk” is widely regarded as an informal expression used to describe a highly distinguished lawyer who has attained the prestigious status of a Senior Advocate.

The title is associated with immense experience, outstanding advocacy and exceptional contribution to the development of the legal profession.

In countries operating the Commonwealth legal tradition, such lawyers are known as King’s Counsel (KC) or Queen’s Counsel (QC), while in Nigeria they are formally referred to as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a rank reserved for only the most accomplished members of the Bar.

The expression “silk” itself originates from the special silk gown worn by senior lawyers as a symbol of honour, prestige and professional excellence.

Traditionally, junior lawyers appear in court wearing gowns made from ordinary stuff fabric, while senior advocates adorn the distinguished silk attire that reflects their elevated status in the legal profession.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.