The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers to immediately stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official dealings with the apex court.
The directive was contained in an internal memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, Esq., on the instruction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. The circular, obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, was addressed to all litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers under the title, “Prohibition of the Use of the Title ‘Barrister’ as a Prefix to Names.”
According to the memorandum, the continued use of the title before names does not align with the standards of professionalism expected within Nigeria’s highest 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 court ordered that the use of the title be discontinued with immediate effect in all official communications and records.
“Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names in all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and any other official engagements with immediate effect,” the directive added.
The Supreme Court also instructed heads of departments and unit heads to ensure full compliance with the new policy across their respective units.
“Heads of Departments and Unit Heads are requested to ensure strict compliance with this directive by all officers under their supervision. Please be guided accordingly,” the memorandum read.
The administrative directive represents a significant change in the Supreme Court’s approach to professional designation within Nigeria’s judicial system.
While the memorandum does not prevent legal practitioners from identifying themselves as barristers in academic or general contexts, it specifically prohibits the use of “Barrister” as a title prefix in official correspondence, records, identity materials and other engagements with the Supreme Court.
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