The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has conferred its Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) rank, also known as the Blue Silk distinction, on Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, Seyi Tinubu, and three other legal professionals.
The other recipients are Olufunmilayo Osifuye, Ihudiebube Chukwumdi, and Alabi Olalekan Adigun.
The conferment took place at the society’s 2026 Annual General Conference in Utako, Abuja, under the theme “Justice for All: Non-Litigation Nigerian Law Graduates Through the Blue Silks (SCN), BOSCON, and the NLS.”
In his acceptance speech, delivered by his Special Adviser on Media, Lizzy Okoji, Fani-Kayode called for greater protection of Nigerians’ rights and dignity at home and abroad.
He said access to justice should not depend on an individual’s social, economic, or political status.
Reflecting on his diplomatic assignment in South Africa, he said his experience had strengthened his commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, particularly those facing challenges in the country.
NLS President, Ambassador Dahiru Aliyu, said the society was established to provide recognition and professional support for law graduates working outside traditional courtroom litigation.
He listed corporate administration, arbitration, mediation, legal consultancy, governance, compliance, legislative drafting, and research among the areas covered by the initiative.
Aliyu said the Blue Silk distinction was designed to recognize professional excellence and encourage ethical standards among legal professionals.
In her keynote address, the Chairperson of the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON), Elizabeth Orebiyi, represented by Ndidi Nicholas Okoro, said legal practice extended beyond courtroom advocacy.
She identified four categories under the initiative: Senior Legal Academic, Senior Corporate Counsel, Senior Legislative Counsel, and Senior Law Reform Counsel.
However, the Blue Silk distinction has faced opposition from the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), which maintains that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) remains the only legally recognized senior rank under the Legal Practitioners Act.
The Federal High Court in Abuja also dismissed a suit seeking judicial validation of the Blue Silk rank in 2026, although the NLS and BOSCON have maintained that they can confer the distinction under their internal rules.
