High Commissioner Femi Fani‑Kayode of Nigeria to South Africa has publicly denied that he was granted the Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) rank, also known as Blue Silk, by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS). The statement, issued on 6 November 2026, clarified that the honour was conferred without his authorisation.
Fani‑Kayode said he had neither approved nor personally accepted the designation, describing the incident as an “unfortunate administrative misjudgment.” He added that any representation by his staff at the event, which followed an invitation from the NLS, was not a reflection of his own endorsement.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, the former Minister of Aviation explained that the staff’s attendance and subsequent communications were made without the High Commissioner’s knowledge or intention to misrepresent his position.
The envoy expressed concern over the legal and professional implications of the alleged conferment, citing the statutory framework that governs the legal profession in Nigeria and recent judicial pronouncements on titles awarded outside that framework.
With more than 41 years in practice, Fani‑Kayode described himself as a member of a family of three generations of legal practitioners and stressed his commitment to upholding the law, professional ethics and the traditions of the profession.
He said the clarification was intended to set the record straight, dispel misconceptions arising from the incident and reaffirm his dedication to the rule of law and the dignity of the legal profession.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
