The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed all litigation staff, legal practitioners, court registrars and lawyers to stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official engagements with the apex court.
The directive was contained in an internal memorandum dated July 13, 2026, issued by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, Kabir E. Akanbi, on the instruction of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
The memo, titled “Prohibition of the Use of the Title ‘Barrister’ as a Prefix to Names,” stated that the practice is inconsistent with the standard of professionalism expected in the country’s highest court.
It directed all affected officers to immediately discontinue the use of “Barrister” before their names in official correspondence, court records, documents, identity materials and every other official engagement with the Supreme Court.
The court also instructed heads of departments and unit heads to ensure strict compliance with the directive across all sections under their supervision.
Although the new policy applies to official interactions with the Supreme Court, it does not prevent legal practitioners from describing themselves as barristers in academic, professional or other non-official settings. Instead, it specifically prohibits the use of “Barrister” as a title prefix in all official communications and records involving the apex court.
