The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has directed lawyers, court officials and litigation staff to stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official engagements at the Supreme Court.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, was conveyed in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.
According to the circular, the use of the title “Barrister” in official correspondence and court-related documents is inconsistent with the professional standards expected within Nigeria’s apex 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 directive requires all affected officers to immediately discontinue the use of the title in official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials and every other official engagement connected with the Supreme Court.
To ensure strict compliance, the Chief Justice also instructed Heads of Departments and Unit Heads to enforce the directive among officers under their supervision.
The development is the latest move aimed at reinforcing professional ethics within Nigeria’s legal system.
It comes weeks after the Council of Legal Education warned prospective lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before being formally called to the Nigerian Bar.
The council had cautioned that such conduct undermines the integrity of the legal profession and could attract disciplinary sanctions, stressing that legal regalia are reserved exclusively for duly qualified legal practitioners under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
