Chief Justice of Nigeria Kudirat Kekere‑Ekun has prohibited lawyers from using the title "Barrister" in official correspondence and engagements.
The directive targets the professional nomenclature used within the Nigerian legal system. By removing the prefix, the judiciary aims to standardize professional conduct and eliminate titles that the leadership deems unnecessary or improper for official court business.
In a memorandum dated July 13, 2026 [1], the Chief Justice said that the use of the title "Barrister" is inappropriate and unprofessional. The order, signed by Chief Registrar Kabir Akanbi, took immediate effect [1].
Justice Kekere‑Ekun said that all heads of departments and unit heads in all tiers of courts must ensure strict compliance with the directive. While some reports indicate the ban is limited to official engagements at the Supreme Court, other accounts state it applies to all tiers of courts nationwide.
Reports differ on the exact scope of the personnel affected. Some sources said the restriction applies specifically to lawyers, while others suggest that court officials and other personnel are also prohibited from using the prefix.
The move seeks to uphold professional standards within the legal community. By stripping the title from official documentation, the judiciary is aligning the formal address of legal practitioners with a stricter interpretation of professional etiquette.
“"The use of the title 'Barrister' is inappropriate and unprofessional."”
This directive reflects a move toward formalizing judicial discipline and stripping away honorary or customary prefixes that do not align with the court's view of professional standards. By banning the term "Barrister"—a title often used in Commonwealth jurisdictions to denote a lawyer qualified to plead in higher courts—the Nigerian judiciary is asserting a more rigid control over how legal practitioners present themselves in official state records.
