The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has maintained that a recent judgment of the Federal High Court supports the existence of the “Blue Silks” rank, which it introduced as an alternative professional recognition for lawyers who do not engage in courtroom litigation.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Clinton Tonye Jaja, ALDRAP was responding to a position taken by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), which had rejected the use of the Blue Silks title within the legal profession.
The LPPC, through its secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, had earlier described the “Blue Silks” designation as unofficial and not recognised under Nigerian law. It insisted that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank remains the highest legal honour in the country and must be followed strictly under existing rules.
The committee also warned that any lawyer using or promoting the Blue Silks title could face disciplinary action for professional misconduct.
However, ALDRAP disagreed with this position, saying a judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja on January 27, 2026, supported its stand.
According to ALDRAP, the court ruled that neither the Nigerian Bar Association nor the LPPC has the authority to punish lawyers who choose to identify with the Blue Silks rank.
The group explained that the court’s reasoning was based on the fact that only the SAN rank is specifically provided for under the Legal Practitioners Act of 1962. Since the Blue Silks rank is not included in that law, ALDRAP argued that regulators cannot impose penalties on lawyers who adopt it.
It further stated that its members are protected under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, allowing them to organise and recognise professional distinctions of their choice.
ALDRAP added that it is currently pursuing a fundamental rights enforcement case at a Federal High Court in Abuja over threats of sanctions linked to the Blue Silks issue. The case involves the Nigerian Bar Association, senior officials of the legal profession, and regulatory committees within the legal system.
In the suit, ALDRAP is asking the court to declare that attempts to punish its members over the Blue Silks designation are unlawful and violate their constitutional rights, including fair hearing and freedom of association.
The group is also seeking a court order to stop any disciplinary action against its members over the issue, along with compensation of ₦50 million and a public apology from the defendants.
Speaking on the controversy, Dr. Jaja said there is a need to broaden the understanding of who can be regarded as a legal professional in Nigeria. He explained that the Blue Silks recognition was created specifically for lawyers who work outside the courtroom.
He noted that while a law graduate holds an LLB degree, a legal practitioner is someone who has also attended the Nigerian Law School and been called to the Bar. However, he argued that many law graduates either do not proceed to the Bar or choose career paths that do not involve litigation.
According to him, such professionals include legislative drafters, law lecturers, legal aid officers, corporate lawyers, and data protection specialists, whose work does not always require courtroom practice.
ALDRAP maintained that the Blue Silks recognition was developed in collaboration with the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) to acknowledge excellence among non-litigation legal professionals in the country.