Supreme Court Bans Use of ‘Barrister’ Title, Orders Immediate Compliance

ByEditor

Aug 1, 2026 #Barrister title banned, #Chief Justice of Nigeria, #court practice Nigeria, #judiciary reforms Nigeria, #Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, #Kabir Akanbi, #legal practitioners Nigeria, #legal profession Nigeria, #NCMS, #Nigerian Case Management System, #Nigerian judiciary, #Nigerian lawyers, #Senior Advocate of Nigeria, #Supreme Court directive, #Supreme Court memorandum, #Supreme Court Nigeria, #Supreme Court official correspondence, #Supreme Court reforms

Pat Stevens/

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered legal practitioners, litigation staff, court registrars and other personnel to immediately stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official dealings with the nation’s apex court.

The directive was conveyed in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, on the instruction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

According to the memorandum, the use of the title “Barrister” before a person’s name is considered inconsistent with the level of professionalism expected in communications and official records of the Supreme Court.

“I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that the use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the memorandum stated.

The order takes immediate effect and applies to all official correspondence, court records, legal documents, identity materials and every other form of official engagement with the Supreme Court.

Heads of departments and unit heads have also been instructed to ensure strict compliance among officers under their supervision.

The latest directive signals the Supreme Court’s continuing efforts to strengthen institutional discipline and standardise professional practice as it implements broader judicial reforms under the leadership of the Chief Justice.

Although the title “Barrister” is widely used in Nigeria as a professional form of address for lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar, it is not a statutory rank.

Under Nigerian law, the recognised professional distinction above that of a legal practitioner is the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), conferred by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC).

Earlier this year, the LPPC also reiterated that unofficial designations such as “Blue Silk” have no legal recognition within Nigeria’s legal profession.

The new instruction also comes as the Supreme Court accelerates reforms designed to modernise judicial administration.

In recent weeks, the apex court introduced mandatory electronic filing requirements through the Nigerian Case Management System (NCMS), directing lawyers handling appeals and motions to upload court processes electronically ahead of scheduled hearings as part of efforts to improve efficiency and speed up the determination of cases.

While the memorandum does not prescribe sanctions for non-compliance, legal practitioners appearing before the Supreme Court, court officials and litigation staff are expected to fully comply with the directive in all future official communications and documentation.