CJN Bans Use of "Barrister" as a Name Prefix at the Supreme Court

If you've ever introduced yourself as "Barrister [Your Name]," the Supreme Court just told you to drop it, at least on official paper.

The Memo

The directive came through a memorandum dated July 13, 2026, signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir Akanbi, and addressed to litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars, and lawyers. It surfaced publicly on Friday, July 31, when several newsrooms got hold of the circular.

The memo reads in part: "I am directed by the Honourable the Chief Justice of Nigeria to notify all Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers that 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 order takes immediate effect and covers official correspondence, court records, legal documents, and identity materials, basically anywhere your name appears in connection with the apex court.

Wait, Are We Not All Barristers?

Technically, yes. Every lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar is enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. That is your qualification. What the CJN is drawing a line on is using it as a prefix, the way some lawyers write "Barrister Chinedu Okafor" the same way others write "Engr." or "Dr." before a name. Going forward, at least in Supreme Court dealings, that stops.

Heads of Departments and Unit Heads have reportedly been tasked with ensuring compliance across their teams, so this is not a quiet suggestion, it is an enforceable directive.

Part of a Bigger Pattern

This is not an isolated move. It comes weeks after the Council of Legal Education warned law students and prospective lawyers against wearing wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified practitioners before their formal Call to Bar, warning that such conduct undermines the dignity of the profession. Taken together, both directives point in the same direction: Nigeria's legal institutions are tightening how title, dress, and professional identity are represented, starting from law school all the way to the Supreme Court.

Why It Matters to You

If you are a law student dreaming of the day you can finally write "Barrister" before your name, here is the update: you still earn that title the day you are called to the Bar. You just might not be using it in Supreme Court paperwork afterward. Small detail, but it is exactly the kind of professional-conduct nuance that separates students who are paying attention from those who find out the hard way.