I did not authorise it: Fani-Kayode disowns Blue Silk conferment

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected the purported conferment of the Senior Counsel of Nigeria rank, also known as Blue Silk, on him by the Nigerian Law Society, saying he neither authorised nor approved the acceptance of the designation.

The Fani-Kayode rejects Blue Silk statement was issued on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE REJECTION

Fani-Kayode explained that members of his staff represented him at the NLS event after his office received an invitation from the society .

“His Excellency wishes to categorically state that he did not personally authorise or approve the acceptance of the said designation and hereby formally disassociates himself from the purported conferment,” the statement read.

He added that the communication subsequently issued to convey acceptance of the title was made without his personal approval and was not intended to misrepresent his position.

“The circumstances surrounding the representation and subsequent communication of acceptance were regrettable and arose from an unfortunate administrative misjudgment, without any intention whatsoever to misrepresent His Excellency’s personal position or professional convictions,” it added .

THE LEGAL QUESTION

Fani-Kayode also questioned the legal and professional basis of the designation, particularly its compatibility with the statutory framework governing the legal profession .

He maintained that, having practised law for more than 41 years, he remained committed to the rule of law and the ethical standards of the profession .

“As a legal practitioner of over 41 years standing, His Excellency would be the last person to knowingly engage in any act that violates the law, undermines the integrity of the legal profession, or brings the profession into disrepute,” the statement said .

He further cited his family’s three-generation history in the legal profession, stressing his commitment to upholding its established traditions.

THE BLUE SILK CONTROVERSY

Fani-Kayode’s rejection comes a day after the NLS announced the conferment of the SCN designation on him, Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, and three other legal practitioners at its 2026 Annual General Conference in Abuja.

The conferment has generated debate over the legal status of the Blue Silk designation, with the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee insisting that Senior Advocate of Nigeria remains the only professional rank statutorily recognised under Nigerian law.

In February, the committee warned lawyers against adopting or parading the Blue Silk title, arguing that it lacked statutory backing and could attract disciplinary consequences .

The controversy also followed a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja dismissing a suit seeking judicial recognition of the designation. Justice James Omotosho held that the suit lacked merit, maintaining that the statutory authority to confer the SAN rank rests with the LPPC .

However, the NLS and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria have maintained that they possess the autonomy to confer the SCN designation on their members under their internal rules and regulations.

WHY IT MATTERS

Fani-Kayode’s rejection is a significant intervention in a controversy that has exposed the fault lines within Nigeria’s legal profession.

The Blue Silk title is not recognised by law. The LPPC has warned against it. The courts have declined to endorse it. Yet the NLS continues to confer it on prominent figures.

Fani-Kayode’s decision to disown the title, even after his staff accepted it on his behalf, is a clear statement that he does not want to be associated with a designation that lacks statutory backing.

For the NLS, the rejection is an embarrassment. For the legal profession, it is a reminder that titles and ranks must be earned through the established statutory process, not through the internal rules of a voluntary association.The controversy continues.

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But for Fani-Kayode, the matter is closed. ValidViewNetwork reports.