NLS flays NBA’s objection, insists on conferment of ‘Blue Silk’ rank on lawyers

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS), an independent body of lawyers, has criticised the objection raised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) against its conferment of the Blue Silk rank on deserving legal practitioners in the country.

In a statement on Friday, the group, alongside its affiliate, the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), insisted that it has the autonomy to confer the rank on willing and worthy legal practitioners.

The NBA and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) had earlier dismissed the introduction and use of the ‘Blue Silk’ title as an alternative to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The LPPC, at the end of a meeting held on February 12, had vowed to take appropriate steps in line with its statutory mandate to preserve the sanctity of the rank of SAN, which it said remained the highest mark of professional distinction for lawyers in the country.

Insisting that the conferment of ‘Blue Silk’ has no statutory backing, the LPPC warned that its use could amount to a violation of the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023.

Likewise, the NBA leadership distanced itself from the rank, describing it as illegal.

However, in a statement signed by the NLS President, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu, he maintained that the NBA has no right to meddle in the affairs of the association.

He argued that just as the NBA recently declared that it has the autonomy to conduct its election without interference from the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), both the NLS and BOSCON also have the autonomy to confer the Blue Silk rank without interference.

“The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) declare their autonomy to conduct their internal affairs, such as the conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) upon its own members, without interference from outsiders, just as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) declared its autonomy to conduct its election without interference from the Hon. AGF.

“The joint leadership of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), which are duly registered organisations with certificates of registration dated 30th December 2025, deems it necessary to issue this press statement to notify the general public as follows:

“The conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) upon members of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) is 100% an internal affair of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), using the criteria of 35 verifiable non-litigation transactions as assessed by the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON).

“None of the candidates is coerced into applying for the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN); each candidate submits an application of their own voluntary, free will and pays the prescribed fees out of firm conviction that the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) is a credible rank of legal excellence for non-litigation Nigerian lawyers.

“The applicants, by payment of the requisite application fees, appending of their signatures, and taking the oath during the conferment ceremony, agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations of both the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), the said Rules and Regulations made pursuant to the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, and the SMEDAN Act, 2003, respectively.

“Just as the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has, by its press statement of 8th July 2026, declared its autonomy and stated that only the leadership and its Board of Trustees have the right to govern its internal affairs, the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) hereby notify the general public that no individual, government official, or institution shall henceforth issue any publication with the intention of interfering with its conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN).

“The Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) is an internal affair of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and BOSCON, as it is not mentioned in the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962.

“In accordance with the judgment of the Hon. Mohammed Garba Umar, delivered on 27th January 2026, neither the NBA nor the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), nor any other person (individual or juristic), has the right or authority to interfere with the said conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN),” the statement further read.

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