The ongoing controversy over the Blue Silks rank, introduced as an alternative to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) title, has taken a significant turn. The Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (BOSCON) and the Nigerian Legal Society (NLS) have announced that they will now oversee the conferment of this distinction, stepping in after the original body, ALDRAP, was restrained by a court order.
This development follows a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, where Justice James Omotosho issued an order stopping ALDRAP and its Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, from awarding the Blue Silks rank. ALDRAP has appealed this decision, arguing that the judge lacked jurisdiction because he had already been confirmed for elevation to the Court of Appeal when he handled the case. Additionally, ALDRAP contends that the court should not have granted an injunction since no such request was formally made.
The new arrangement was confirmed in a statement by Amb. Dahiru Aliyu, SCN, President of BOSCON, who explained that the decision came after an emergency meeting on May 21, 2026. The statement notes that BOSCON, which received its official registration on December 30, 2025, will now be responsible for screening candidates and conferring the Blue Silks rank, specifically for non-litigation lawyers and deserving law graduates.
According to the statement, the Blue Silks rank comprises three categories: Senior Legislative Counsel of Nigeria (SELCON), Senior Legal Academic (SLA), and Senior Corporate Counsel (SCC). To qualify, candidates must have at least 35 verifiable non-litigation transactions or publications. BOSCON is a fully registered entity with certification from relevant federal government institutions.
The NLS, a parallel body to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has also been involved in this transition. Despite opposition from the NBA and the broader legal establishment, the emergence of BOSCON and NLS signals that non-litigation lawyers are determined to establish the Blue Silks as a recognized alternative to the SAN title, which has traditionally favored litigation practitioners.
While ALDRAP had previously vowed to continue conferring the rank in defiance of the court order, claiming the judgment is a nullity, the recent announcement indicates a strategic shift. The association has filed an appeal and a stay of execution, but the conferment activities will now be handled by BOSCON and NLS pending the outcome of the legal challenge.