Court voids suit on ‘Blue Silk’ rank, affirms LPPC’s sole authority to confer SAN status

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking recognition of a proposed “Blue Silk” rank for legal practitioners in Nigeria, reaffirming that only the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) is statutorily empowered to confer the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Delivering judgment in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/421/2026 on Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho held that the action brought by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners and Tonye Jaja was without merit and not supported by law.

The court ruled that the attempt to create and confer an alternative professional rank outside the established legal framework was inconsistent with the Legal Practitioners Act and could not be justified under the right to freedom of association.

“The argument by the applicants that they have a right to freedom of assembly and association does not come into play here,” Justice Omotosho said, adding that the legal profession in Nigeria is a single statutory structure that cannot be privately replicated.

He held that the applicants could not rely on fundamental rights to override statutory provisions governing legal practice, noting that “the applicants cannot hide under fundamental rights to breach statutory provisions.”

According to the judge, the claim that their rights to freedom of association and fair hearing were breached was not established, adding that the suit failed to disclose any valid cause of action.

He therefore dismissed the case and held that the LPPC remains the only recognised body legally empowered to confer the SAN rank on eligible legal practitioners.

The court also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the applicants from conferring or attempting to confer the “Blue Silk” rank, or any similar designation not provided for under the law.

The ruling followed a suit filed by the applicants against the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association and its General Secretary, Mobolaji Ojibara, alongside officials of the LPPC and the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

In the originating motion filed on March 2, the applicants had sought multiple reliefs, including a perpetual injunction restraining disciplinary action over the proposed rank, as well as N50 million in damages for alleged violation of their fundamental rights and N5 million in legal costs.

They argued that the “Blue Silk” designation was not provided for under the Legal Practitioners Act and that regulatory bodies acted outside their powers in attempting to sanction its promotion.

However, the respondents urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the applicants lacked legal authority to create or confer any professional rank within Nigeria’s legal profession.

The court agreed, holding that the initiative was “void and unrecognised by law,” bringing the attempt to establish an alternative senior legal ranking system to an end.