Jaja Challenges LPPC Secretary's Petition on Blue Silks Rank

Dr Tonye Clinton Jaja, Executive Director of the Nigerian Law Society, has raised concerns over a petition filed against him and 13 other lawyers by Kabir Eniola Akanbi, Secretary of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), regarding the Blue Silks rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN). In a statement dated 11 October 2026, Jaja emphasized that disputes over the rank should be resolved through legal procedures, including appeals against court judgments.

He referenced a Federal High Court judgment from 27 January 2026, which clarified the powers of the Nigerian Bar Association, the LPPC, and other bodies involved in conferring the SCN rank. Jaja questioned the fairness of the petition process and raised issues of potential bias due to Akanbi's dual roles as LPPC secretary and Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

He also disputed Akanbi's claim regarding difficulties in establishing contact details for the petition, asserting that legal documents had been exchanged in ongoing cases. Jaja argued that the petition infringed on constitutional principles of fair hearing and double jeopardy.