Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected the Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), popularly known as the Blue Silk designation, allegedly conferred on him by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS).
In a statement issued on Friday through his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, the former Minister of Aviation said he neither authorised nor approved the acceptance of the honour and was formally distancing himself from it.
According to the statement, Fani-Kayode’s office received an invitation to the event, and members of his staff attended on his behalf. However, he maintained that their participation should not be interpreted as his personal acceptance or endorsement of the designation.
He described the situation as the result of an administrative error, stressing that any communication indicating his acceptance of the title was made without his direct approval and did not reflect his position.
Fani-Kayode also expressed concerns about the legal validity of the designation, citing questions surrounding its compliance with the laws and regulations governing the legal profession in Nigeria.
The diplomat emphasised his commitment to the rule of law and professional ethics, noting that he had practised law for more than four decades and would not knowingly engage in any action capable of undermining the integrity of the legal profession.
He further stated that his family has a long-standing legal tradition spanning three generations and reaffirmed his respect for the established standards of legal practice in the country.
The rejection comes a day after the Nigerian Law Society conferred the SCN designation on Fani-Kayode, Seyi Tinubu and three other legal practitioners during its 2026 Annual General Conference in Abuja.
Other recipients included Olufunmilayo Osifuye, Ihudiebube Chukwumdi and Alabi Olalekan Adigun.
The development has reignited debate over the legal status of the Blue Silk title. The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has consistently maintained that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) remains the only senior legal rank recognised under Nigerian law.
Earlier in the year, the LPPC warned lawyers against adopting or presenting themselves as holders of the Blue Silk designation, arguing that it lacks statutory recognition and could attract disciplinary action.
The controversy follows a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja in which Justice James Omotosho dismissed a suit seeking judicial recognition of the Blue Silk rank, ruling that the authority to confer the SAN title rests exclusively with the LPPC.
Despite the ruling, the Nigerian Law Society and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria have insisted that they retain the right to award the SCN designation to their members under their internal regulations.
Fani-Kayode, however, maintained that neither his representation at the event nor any correspondence issued on his behalf should be construed as acceptance of the honour.