Blue Silks rank controversy: ‘How CJN, NBA, LPPC silence conferred tacit approval’
Legal Controversy Surrounds Introduction of Blue Silks Rank in Nigeria
The ongoing legal dispute regarding the Blue Silks rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) continues as the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) asserts that legal authorities have given tacit approval for its introduction. This new title is intended as an alternative to the established title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has opposed the Blue Silks rank, deeming it illegal. The NBA’s Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), responsible for granting the SAN designation to deserving lawyers, has issued a warning that lawyers adopting the Blue Silks rank may face sanctions for professional misconduct.
In response to this threat, ALDRAP has filed a lawsuit in the Abuja Federal High Court seeking protection for its members’ rights and requesting an injunction preventing the NBA and other parties from interfering with the Blue Silks rank. The organization cites a 2026 ruling by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar, which stated that the NBA lacks authority over titles not specified in the Legal Practitioners Act of 1962. Therefore, ALDRAP contends that neither the NBA nor the LPPC can regulate or penalize lawyers associated with the new title.
The case remains pending, with proceedings currently at the judgment stage.
ALDRAP has indicated that it provided notification of the Blue Silks rank to key legal authorities, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the NBA, and the National Assembly. A letter addressed to the Chairman of the LPPC, dated November 17, 2025, confirms that ALDRAP’s Governing Council approved the introduction of two ranks: Senior Counsel of Nigeria and Senior Legislative Counsel of Nigeria.
Despite these notifications, ALDRAP Executive Secretary Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja revealed that the Chief Justice, the NBA, and the LPPC did not respond to any communications regarding the Blue Silks rank. He argued that their silence implies acceptance of the new title. Jaja referenced a Court of Appeal pronouncement that interprets silence as acquiescence, suggesting that the inaction of these legal bodies has implicitly endorsed the introduction of the Blue Silks rank.
Jaja stated, “Since 2021, the Incorporated Trustees of ALDRAP have made efforts to inform key authorities of our intention to launch the Blue Silks rank, exercising our rights under Section 40 of the Constitution of Nigeria. However, none acknowledged our correspondences.”
ALDRAP plans to solidify the legitimacy of the Blue Silks rank through proposed legislation titled “A Register of Nigerian Legislative Counsel and Allied Practitioners (Establishment) Regulations, 2025,” which is currently awaiting approval from the Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission.
