By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
Currently, there are about 200,000 lawyers on the Supreme Court Roll of Legal Practitioners, admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
This, undoubtedly, makes the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) the largest organisation of legal practitioners in Africa, though still far below the numerical strength of countries like India with over two million registered legal professionals, and the United States, which has about 1.3 million lawyers.
The legal landscape in Nigeria fundamentally comprises the Bar and the Bench, which together form the core of the legal profession and justice administration.
A primary thread running through both divides (Bar and Bench) is the concept of seniority, which not only confers privileges but also determines suitability for appointment to certain roles and positions.
At the Bar, the pinnacle of legal excellence is attaining the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Nigeria has conferred the rank of SAN on numerous distinguished lawyers since the inception of the title in 1975.
The Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), is the statutory body responsible for determining who meets the threshold for the rank, which is akin to the title of Queen’s Counsel (QC) in the United Kingdom.
Some of the benefits that accrue to holders of the rank include a front-row seat in courts, as well as having their cases called ahead of other lawyers, irrespective of age or professional qualification.
Moreover, SANs don silk gowns during proceedings—symbolising prestige—and are addressed as Learned Silk in formal settings, such as judgments or introductions.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, recently disclosed that there are about 1,000 SANs in the country.
Periodically, the LPPC, pursuant to section 5(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11 LFN 2004, issues guidelines for the conferment of the rank on deserving lawyers.
On November 25, 2025, President Bola Tinubu kick-started a reform process to increase the post-call threshold for qualification to receive the rank of SAN, from 10 to 15 years.
The proposed legislation, titled: The Legal Practitioners Bill 2025, which he transmitted to the Senate, seeks to repeal and re-enact the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (originally enacted in 1962).
Aside from seeking to strengthen professional discipline by improving mechanisms for dealing with misconduct, the Bill introduced clearer licensing requirements not only to standardise who is authorised to practise law in Nigeria, but also to check the excesses of fake lawyers.
Under President Tinubu’s reform proposal, the LPPC—comprising 19 judicial members led by the CJN—will retain full control over SAN appointments, discipline, and sanctions.
Section 32(1) establishes the LPPC, consisting of:
(a) the Chief Justice of Nigeria as Chairman;
(b) the next most senior Supreme Court Justice;
(c) the Attorney-General of the Federation;
(d) the President of the Court of Appeal;
(e) the President of the [Nigerian Bar] Association, if a SAN;
(f) the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;
(g) the President of the National Industrial Court;
(h) six Chief Judges of State High Courts, appointed by the CJN in rotation from each of the six geopolitical zones; and
(i) six SANs, including one law professor with at least six years’ experience, appointed by the CJN in consultation with the Attorney-General of the Federation.(2) Members under subsections (1)(h) and (1)(i) serve two-year terms, renewable once.
(3) Quorum requires the Chairman and 12 other members.
(4) Proceedings remain valid despite vacancies or ineligible participants.
Section 33(1) empowers the LPPC to confer SAN rank on eligible legal practitioners by instrument.(2) Candidates must have at least 15 years’ post-call experience and demonstrated distinction in the profession.
(3) Eligibility also requires:
(a) employing at least five junior lawyers; and
(b) completing an induction course prior to conferment.
(4) The LPPC may mandate periodic training for SANs.
(5) With Body of Benchers’ approval, the LPPC shall make rules on:
(a) SAN privileges;
(b) prohibited functions for SANs;
(c) court appearance protocols; and
(d) measures to uphold the rank’s dignity.
(6) The LPPC, with Body of Benchers’ approval, shall set, retain, or review SAN conferment criteria and conditions for withdrawal.
However, the CJN-led LPPC, on February 12, raised concerns over lawyers’ introduction and use of a new rank, Blue Silks, which it insisted was illegal and unknown to judicial authorities.
The Committee, in a statement signed by its Secretary—who doubles as the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Mr. Kabir Eniola Akanbi, said it does not recognise such a title, insisting the rank of SAN remains the highest mark of professional distinction for legal practitioners in the country.
The Blue Silks title first came to light while the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) held the first-ever investiture ceremony in Abuja on December 15, 2025.
The organisers explained that the title, officially referred to as Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), was conferred on Nigerian lawyers who are not engaged in litigation but have at least 10 years professional experience in other specialised areas of law, in addition to holding a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
According to ALDRAP, the Blue Silk rank is conferred pursuant to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, and relevant regulations under Section 19(1) of the National Assembly Service Commission Act, 2014.
Meanwhile, irked by the development, the LPPC maintained that the conferment of Blue Silk has no statutory backing, warning that its use could amount to violations of the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023.
It said: “The attention of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has been drawn to the introduction and recent use of the purported title or designation referred to as Blue Silk within certain quarters of the legal community.
“The LPPC is a statutory body established under the Legal Practitioners Act and is
solely vested with the responsibility of conferring the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“The rank of SAN remains the highest mark of professional distinction for legal practitioners in Nigeria and is awarded strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and the Guidelines issued by the LPPC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the LPPC does not recognise any parallel, intermediate, or alternative rank styled as Blue Silk or by any other nomenclature purporting to suggest official status, hierarchy, or recognition within the legal profession.
“The introduction, conferment or use of such a title has no statutory backing and does not emanate from the LPPC or any authority recognised under the Legal
Practitioners Act.
“Members of the legal profession and the general public are hereby advised to take note. “The LPPC views the actions of legal practitioners involved in the establishment of such purported ranks, as well as individuals who present or parade themselves as Blue Silks, as conduct that may amount to violations of the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023.
“At its meeting held on 12th February 2026, the LPPC resolved to take appropriate steps in line with its statutory mandate to preserve the integrity of the legal profession and the sanctity of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“The LPPC remains firmly committed to upholding the integrity, prestige, and exclusivity of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and will continue to discharge
its responsibilities strictly in accordance with the law,” the statement added.
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