The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has inaugurated its Blue Silks at its first-ever investiture ceremony held in Abuja on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The event was hosted at the Federal Secretariat Phase 1 Hall, near Eagle Square, and was attended by notable legal professionals and stakeholders in legislative drafting and advocacy.
The Blue Silk, officially referred to as Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN), is conferred on Nigerian lawyers who are not engaged in litigation but have at least ten years’ professional experience in other specialised areas of law, in addition to holding a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
This rank is distinct from the Golden Silk or Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), which is reserved for litigation lawyers who satisfy the criteria prescribed under Section 5 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962.
According to ALDRAP, the Blue Silk rank is conferred pursuant to Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, and relevant regulations under Section 19(1) of the National Assembly Service Commission Act, 2014.
The framework also reflects long-standing English legal traditions dating back to 1869, when a Register of Legislative Counsel was established in the UK Parliament.
Declaring the ceremony open, Senior Legislative Aide in the Office of the President of the Senate, Hon. Femi Odere, affirmed the legality of the initiative.
“I am delighted to proclaim this swearing in ceremony as officially opened and commenced.
This Blue Silks initiative finds its legal basis in Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the inherent powers of ALDRAP as an incorporated trustee to confer ranks and titles upon its members.”
The shortlisted members for the Blue Silks investiture include a former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, David Iorhemba; Dr Eric Omo Enajireru, of the Faculty of Law, University of Delta; a former vice chairman, NBA, Gwagwalada branch, David Aighefoh; Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, Clerk, House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja, Yahaya Danzaria; Dr. Chibuzor Sunday Okeke; and Chief Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla.
Others are Ibe Eric Chigozie, Prof Timothy Olagbemiro, Dr Dahiru Aliyu, Mrs Adetoun Simisola Akwaraneu, Ambassador Dr Duru Haliru, Head Diplomatic Mission, IHRC in Nigeria, Dr Grace Perpetual Dafiel, Sunday Aigbogun, Henry Chinkere-Nwogu and Finian Eze Ndukwu.
