By John Azu
The Supreme Court has directed lawyers, judicial officers, and court personnel to discontinue the use of the title “Barrister” as a prefix to names in all official engagements with the apex court.
The directive, issued by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, was conveyed in an internal memo dated July 13, 2026, and signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi.
Addressed to judicial officers, court registrars, litigation staff, and other relevant personnel, the memo is titled: “Prohibition of the Use of the Title ‘Barrister’ as a Prefix to Names.”
According to the memo, the continued use of the title before names is inconsistent with the professional standards expected within the Supreme Court.
The Chief Justice directed all affected persons to discontinue the practice with immediate effect.
“The use of the title ‘Barrister’ as a prefix to names is inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” the memo stated.
The court further directed that the title should no longer appear in official correspondence, court records, legal documents, identification materials, or any other official engagement with the Supreme Court.
To ensure full compliance, the Chief Registrar instructed all heads of departments and unit heads to implement and enforce the directive across their respective offices.