Supreme Court Orders Lawyers to Drop ‘Barrister’ Prefix in Official Engagements
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed lawyers, litigation staff and court officials to stop using the title “Barrister” before their names in all official dealings with the apex court. The directive, which takes immediate effect, is aimed at promoting professionalism and ensuring uniform standards in official court communications.
The new instruction was conveyed in a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi. According to the memo, the directive was issued on the instruction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
The memorandum states that using “Barrister” as a prefix is considered inappropriate and does not align with the level of professionalism expected in official engagements before the Supreme Court.
As a result, legal practitioners, court registrars, litigation staff and all lawyers interacting with the Supreme Court have been instructed to remove the title from official correspondence, court records, legal documents, identity materials and every other formal communication connected to the court.
Supreme Court Orders Lawyers to Drop ‘Barrister’ Prefix in Official Engagements
The Chief Registrar also directed Heads of Departments and Unit Heads within the judiciary to ensure strict compliance with the new policy among officers under their supervision.
The directive represents an administrative change in the Supreme Court’s official communication standards rather than a change to the legal qualification of practitioners. Going forward, lawyers appearing before or corresponding with the apex court are expected to comply fully with the new naming convention as part of broader efforts to maintain professional consistency within Nigeria’s judicial system.
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