The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has formally distanced itself from the emergence and circulation of a purported professional title styled as “Blue Silk,” stating unequivocally that it does not recognise any such designation within the Nigerian legal system.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Mr. Kabir Akanbi, who also serves as Secretary of the LPPC, the Committee said its attention had been drawn to the introduction and recent usage of the title within certain segments of the legal community.
The LPPC, established under the Legal Practitioners Act and vested with statutory authority to confer the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reaffirmed that the SAN distinction remains the highest professional honour attainable by legal practitioners in Nigeria.
According to the Committee, the award of the SAN rank is governed strictly by the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act and the Guidelines issued by the LPPC. It emphasised that it does not recognise any parallel, intermediary, or alternative designation, whether styled as “Blue Silk” or otherwise, that purports to suggest official recognition, hierarchical standing, or professional elevation within the Bar.
For clarity, the LPPC stated that any such title lacks statutory foundation and does not emanate from the Committee or any authority recognised under the Legal Practitioners Act.
The Committee further cautioned that practitioners who create, adopt, or publicly parade themselves under the disputed designation may be exposing themselves to potential breaches of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023.
At its meeting held on 12 February 2026, the LPPC resolved to take necessary measures within its statutory mandate to safeguard the integrity of the profession and preserve the exclusivity attached to the SAN rank.
Reiterating its position, the Committee affirmed its commitment to maintaining the dignity, prestige, and institutional sanctity of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria designation, assuring members of the Bar that it will continue to discharge its responsibilities in strict compliance with the law.