Fani-Kayode rejects senior counsel of Nigeria title

Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Friday, disassociated himself from the designation of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), known as Blue Silk, that the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) conferred on him.

According to a press statement signed by his special assistant on media, Lizzy Okoji, Mr Fani-Kayode said he “did not personally authorise or approve the acceptance of the said designation and hereby formally disassociates himself from the purported conferment.”

He explained that he sent a representative to the NLS event for official engagements in honour of the society’s invitation.

Mr Fani-Kayode, a lawyer, described his representative’s acceptance of the designation as an “unfortunate administrative misjudgement” and did not reflect his endorsement or convictions.

The NLS, which gained attention in recent years with its posturing as a rival to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and introduction of the controversial Blue Silk title in 2025, reportedly conferred the title on Mr Fani-Kayode and four other lawyers.

The other recipients were Seyi Tinubu, Olufunmilayo Osifuye, Ihudiebube Chukwumdi and Alabi Adigun.

The conferment reportedly took place on Thursday at the society’s 2026 Annual General Conference held in Utako, Abuja.

Mr Fani-Kayode, a former aviation minister, cast doubts on the legal status of the NLS.

He said, with his 41 years of professional experience as a legal practitioner, he would not “undermine the integrity of the legal profession, or bring the profession into disrepute.”

“It is particularly pertinent to note that the purported conferment raises serious questions regarding its legal and professional implications, particularly in view of the statutory framework regulating the legal profession in Nigeria and relevant judicial pronouncements concerning the conferment of professional ranks outside the established legal framework.”

He urged the public to disregard any misrepresentation and reaffirmed his commitment to “the rule of law, professional ethics, and the dignity of the legal profession.”

The conferment of the designation of blue silk has been the subject of controversy in Nigeria.

In November 2025, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) addressed concerns over the actions of Tonye Jaja, who was promoting the creation of the “privileged rank” or “Blue Silk” for legal practitioners.

According to the NBA, his action was inconsistent with the legal profession’s regulatory framework, misleading and misrepresented institutional structures.

On 12 February, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), a body saddled with the conferment of the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), warned lawyers against using the designation ‘Blue Silk’ and stressed that the title is not recognised in the Nigerian legal profession.

In May, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to introduce the rank of ‘Blue Silk’ for legal practitioners in Nigeria as an alternative to the rank of SAN.