The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has directed lawyers, court officials and litigation staff to immediately stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official engagements at the Supreme Court.
The directive was contained in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi. It was addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers appearing before or dealing with the apex court. �
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According to the memorandum, the Chief Justice considers the use of the title “Barrister” before names to be inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The circular directed all affected officers to discontinue the use of the title in official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials and all other official engagements with immediate effect. �
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To ensure full compliance, the Chief Justice also instructed Heads of Departments and Unit Heads to enforce the directive among officers under their supervision.
While the directive applies specifically to official dealings with the Supreme Court, it has sparked discussion within the legal profession, where many Nigerian lawyers traditionally use “Barrister” as a professional title after being called to the Bar.
CJN Bans Use of ‘Barrister’ as Official Title at Supreme Court
