Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Kingdom of Eswatini, His Excellency, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) and its principal figure, Mr Tonye Jaja Clinton also known as Mr Tony Jaja, against what he considers attempts to blackmail and impose unauthorised financial obligations upon him over a purported conferment of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), popularly known as Blue Silk, which he neither solicited nor authorised. He has declared that he will not tolerate any attempt to undermine his professional integrity, reputation or diplomatic office.
His Excellency expresses profound displeasure at the latest public statement by the NLS, particularly its publication of official correspondence from the Office of the High Commissioner and its demand for an alleged outstanding financial balance in connection with the purported conferment. He considers this development a disturbing attempt to misrepresent administrative correspondence as personal consent, official representation as professional endorsement, and an unauthorised administrative action as a binding financial commitment.
For the avoidance of doubt, correspondence did take place between the Secretary, and the Chief of Staff to the High Commissioner and the Nigerian Law Society. It is equally true that His Excellency’s Special Assistant on Media represented him at the event and signed for and collected the certificate. However, His Excellency was not aware of the event beforehand neither did authorised his representation, the acceptance of the purported designation, or any financial commitment associated with it. Any suggestion to the contrary is wholly misleading and fundamentally misconceived.
Under the established administrative procedures of the Office of the High Commissioner, the Special Assistant on Special Duties ordinarily reviews engagements and brings to the attention of His Excellency only those considered sufficiently important to warrant his personal attention. In the assessment that the purported conferment was not a high-profile engagement requiring the personal attention of the High Commissioner, the Special Assistant on Special Duties exercised his discretion and assigned the Special Assistant on Media to represent His Excellency. This was a gross administrative error and an unfortunate error of judgment on the part of the officials concerned.
The officials involved have been formally queried and are facing appropriate administrative and disciplinary actions. His Excellency considers this an internal administrative lapse which has been acknowledged and is being addressed. However, an administrative error cannot be transformed into personal consent by the High Commissioner, nor can it be used to bind him to a designation he has expressly rejected. The collection of a certificate does not confer upon any official the authority to determine His Excellency’s personal professional convictions or incur financial obligations on his behalf.
His Excellency reiterates that he does not recognise the purported designation of Senior Counsel of Nigeria as a statutory professional rank under the Legal Practitioners Act. The rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria remains the statutorily recognised professional distinction conferred through the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee. Furthermore, the Federal High Court in Abuja, in its judgment reportedly delivered on 13 May 2026 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/421/2026, addressed the legality of the purported Blue Silk designation and granted consequential injunctive relief. His Excellency considers it troubling that, against this background of judicial pronouncements and continuing legal controversy, the NLS would proceed to associate his name with a designation whose legal implications remain seriously contested.
As a legal practitioner of over 41 years’ standing, coming from three generations of legal practitioners, His Excellency has neither the inclination nor the need to compromise the integrity of the profession for the sake of an honorary designation. He would be the last person to knowingly violate the law or participate in any arrangement capable of bringing the legal profession into disrepute. His rejection of the purported conferment is therefore informed by his longstanding commitment to professional ethics, the rule of law and the dignity of the legal profession.
His Excellency categorically rejects the purported payment demand by the NLS. He did not solicit the designation, request its conferment, negotiate any financial consideration, approve any payment obligation, or authorise any member of his staff to incur a financial liability on his behalf. He never obligated himself to the NLS to pay a kobo in respect of a designation he neither sought nor personally authorised. Any alleged contractual, financial or membership obligation must be established strictly in accordance with the law and cannot be imposed upon him merely because his Office received correspondence or assigned a representative to collect a document.
Also of particular concern to His Excellency are the circumstances surrounding Dr Tonye Jaja Clinton, the principal figure associated with the NLS. It has also just been brought to the attention of His Excellency that the said Mr Jaja Clinton had sent an application through His Chief of Staff to serve as His Excellency’s Legal Adviser, an application which was declined. In the light of this antecedent, His Excellency considers the present campaign against him suspicious and raises serious questions as to whether it is motivated by personal resentment or a desire for reprisal. The circumstances give rise to a legitimate concern that the purported payment demand and the accompanying public statements may constitute an attempt to use the controversy as leverage against him.
His Excellency will not dismiss the possibility that this campaign is a calculated ploy by Mr Jaja to blackmail, intimidate and extort financial concessions or other advantages from him. Any attempt to exploit a professional controversy, weaponise institutional correspondence or deploy public pressure to compel payment from an individual who has expressly rejected the purported conferment would be wholly unacceptable and potentially actionable under the law. His Excellency will neither succumb to such pressure nor permit personal grievances to be disguised as legitimate institutional demands.
The High Commissioner hereby issues a strong legal warning to Mr Tonye Jaja, the Nigerian Law Society and all persons acting on their behalf to desist from further acts of blackmail, harassment or any attempt to impose unauthorised financial obligations upon him. They are equally warned against publishing, circulating or making further representations concerning him that are false, misleading, defamatory or otherwise unlawful. Any further conduct of this nature will be met with appropriate legal action without further public notice.
His Excellency has instructed his legal team to take all necessary steps to protect his rights, reputation, professional integrity and dignity.
His Excellency has no interest in engaging in an endless exchange of statements with the NLS or its officials, particularly when he has considerably more important diplomatic responsibilities requiring his attention.
The position of His Excellency is final and unequivocal: Chief Femi Fani-Kayode rejects the purported SCN conferment, rejects every unauthorised financial obligation associated with it, and disassociates himself completely from any representation suggesting his acceptance or endorsement. The Nigerian Law Society is accordingly advised to respect this unequivocal position, desist from further representations suggesting his acceptance or financial obligation, and refrain from any further conduct capable of misleading the public or prejudicing his professional reputation.
His Excellency considers the matter closed from his end. Any further attempt to reopen it through public pressure, financial demands, or personal attacks will be treated as a matter requiring appropriate legal intervention.
SIGNED
EMMANUEL OWABOR
Chief of Staff to
His Excellency, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode
High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
to the Republic of South Africa, the Kingdom of Lesotho
and the Kingdom of Eswatini.
November 10, 2026