Supreme Court bans use of ‘Barrister’ as prefix to names
By Ishaya Ibrahim
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has directed all lawyers, litigation staff, court registrars, and legal practitioners to immediately stop using the title “Barrister” as a prefix to their names in all official matters.
In a memorandum dated 13th July, 2026 and signed by the Chief Registrar, Kabir E. Akanbi, Esq., the court said the directive was issued on the instruction of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Addressed to “All Litigation Staff, Legal Practitioners, Court Registrars, and Lawyers,” the memo described the use of “Barrister” before names as “inappropriate and inconsistent with the standards of professionalism expected within the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”
The directive applies to all official correspondence, records, documents, identity materials, and “any other official engagements.”
“Consequently, all officers concerned are hereby directed to discontinue the use of the title ‘Barrister’ before their names… with immediate effect,” the memo stated.
Background
The title “Barrister” has long been used by legal practitioners in Nigeria as a professional prefix, similar to “Dr.” for doctors.
The term originates from the English legal system. “Barrister” comes from “bar” — the partition in English courts that separated the public gallery from the area where lawyers addressed the court. Only those “called to the Bar” by the Inns of Court were permitted to argue cases beyond it. “Barrister-at-Law” therefore meant “one called to the Bar.”
In the United Kingdom and other common law jurisdictions, “Barrister” is used as a professional designation, not as a prefix. It typically appears after a name, e.g., “Jane Doe, Barrister,” rather than “Barr. Jane Doe.”
