Nigerian Law Society clashes with Bar Association over 'Blue Silk' rank for lawyers

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS), an independent group of lawyers, has strongly criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for objecting to its decision to confer the "Blue Silk" rank on deserving legal practitioners. The NLS, along with its affiliate, the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), maintains that it possesses the autonomy to grant this distinction.

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The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) declare their autonomy to conduct their internal affairs, such as the conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) upon its own members, without interference from outsiders, just as the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) declared its autonomy to conduct its election without interference from the Hon. AGF.

This development follows earlier dismissals of the "Blue Silk" title by both the NBA and the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC). The LPPC, in a February meeting, vowed to protect the integrity of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank, deeming it the highest professional honor for lawyers. They stated that the "Blue Silk" conferment lacks statutory backing and could violate professional conduct rules, labeling the NBA's stance as illegal.

However, NLS President Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu asserted that the NBA has no authority to interfere in the NLS's internal affairs. He drew a parallel to the NBA's declaration of autonomy in conducting its elections without external interference. Aliyu emphasized that both the NLS and BOSCON, as registered organizations, have the right to manage their internal matters, including the conferment of the "Blue Silk" rank, free from outside meddling.

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The conferment of the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) upon members of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) is 100% an internal affair of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), using the criteria of 35 verifiable non-litigation transactions as assessed by the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON).

The NLS and BOSCON clarified that the "Blue Silk" rank, also referred to as Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), is an internal matter determined by specific criteria: 35 verifiable non-litigation transactions assessed by BOSCON. They stressed that candidates voluntarily apply for this rank and pay the associated fees, believing in its credibility as a legal distinction.

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None of the candidates is coerced into applying for the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN); each candidate submits an application of their own voluntary, free will and pays the prescribed fees out of firm conviction that the Blue Silk rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) is a credible rank of legal exc