CJN’s ban on ‘Barrister’ title, replacement with ‘Esquire’ not backed by law – Nigerian Law Society

The Nigerian Law Society has declared that the directive by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, banning the usage of ‘Barrister’ and replacing it with ‘Esquire’ arsenic the rubric for Nigerian lawyers, is not established by statutes.

The CJN had directed lawyers and tribunal officials to, with contiguous effect, halt utilizing the rubric “Barrister” arsenic a prefix to their names successful each authoritative engagements astatine the Supreme Court. The directive was contained successful a memo dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.

According to the memo, which was addressed to ineligible practitioners, tribunal registrars and different lawyers, the directive is portion of efforts to uphold nonrecreational standards wrong the apex court.

Reacting to the development, the NLS, speaking done its Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, explained that the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962, recognises the titles of Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria for each Nigerian lawyers who person been successfully called to the Bar.

“Using ‘Barrister’ arsenic a rubric is simply a half-truth that leaves retired the rubric of ‘Solicitor’. As an alternate title, the rubric of ‘Esquire’ oregon its abbreviated mentation ‘Esq.’ was to beryllium utilized arsenic the due suffix by Nigerian lawyers successful their official...