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Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, has disowned the purported conferment of the Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) designation, also known as Blue Silk, on him by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), saying he neither authorised nor approved its acceptance.
In a press statement made available to the Daily Sun on Friday, November 6, 2026, and signed by Lizzy Okoji, Special Assistant on Media to His Excellency, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of South Africa, the former Minister of Aviation said he was not personally involved in accepting the designation.
Fani-Kayode said members of his staff represented him at the event after the Society sent an invitation to his office while he was engaged in official duties. He described the subsequent communication indicating acceptance of the title as an administrative error.
“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,” the statement said.
The former minister also questioned the legal and professional basis for the conferment, citing Nigeria’s statutory framework governing the legal profession and judicial pronouncements on the award of professional ranks outside the established legal structure.
He said the matter raised serious concerns and stressed that he remained committed to respecting the law and established professional standards.
“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 added.
Fani-Kayode also pointed to his family background, noting that he came from three generations of legal practitioners and remained committed to professional ethics and the traditions of the legal profession.
He therefore rejected the designation, insisting that his staff’s attendance at the event and any communication made on his behalf should not be taken as his personal endorsement or acceptance of the title.
The statement said the clarification was issued to put his position on record, dispel misconceptions surrounding the incident and reaffirm his commitment to the rule of law, professional ethics and the dignity of the legal profession.
