Nigeria, May 13 -- The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking to introduce the rank of 'Blue Silk' for legal practitioners in Nigeria as an alternative to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

In a judgement, Judge James Omotosho held that the suit lacked merit and ruled that only the Legal Practitioners' Privileges Committee (LPPC) has the legal authority to confer the SAN rank on lawyers in the country.

"The argument by the applicants that they have a right to freedom of assembly and association does not come into play here," the judge said.

"The legal profession is not like joining a political party wherein one can jump from party to party.

"There is only one legal profession in Nigeria duly recog...