Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has rejected the Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN) designation purportedly conferred on him by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), saying he neither authorised nor approved its acceptance.

The former Minister of Aviation described the circumstances surrounding the conferment as an administrative misjudgment, insisting that his participation in the process should not be interpreted as personal endorsement of the controversial designation.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Assistant on Media, Lizzy Okoji, Fani-Kayode explained that members of his staff represented him at the society’s event after his office received an invitation.

“His Excellency wishes to categorically state that he did not personally authorise or approve the acceptance of the said designation and hereby formally disassociates himself from the purported conferment,” the statement read.

He clarified that subsequent communication conveying acceptance of the designation was made without his personal approval or intention to misrepresent his position.

“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 added.

Fani-Kayode also questioned the legal and professional implications of the designation, particularly its conformity with the statutory framework regulating the legal profession in Nigeria and relevant judicial pronouncements.

The former minister stressed that he remained committed to the rule of law and professional ethics, noting that he had practised as a lawyer for more than 41 years.

“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 said.

He further highlighted his family’s legal background, explaining that he came from three generations of legal practitioners and remained committed to preserving the established traditions and integrity of the profession.

His rejection comes a day after the NLS conferred the Senior Counsel of Nigeria designation, popularly known as Blue Silk, on him, Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, and three other legal practitioners during its 2026 Annual General Conference in Abuja.

Other recipients were Olufunmilayo Osifuye, Ihudiebube Chukwumdi and Alabi Olalekan Adigun.

The conferment has sparked controversy over the legal status of the Blue Silk designation, with the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) maintaining that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) remains the only professional rank statutorily recognised under Nigerian law.

In February, the committee warned lawyers against adopting or parading the Blue Silk designation, arguing that it lacked statutory backing and could expose practitioners to disciplinary consequences.

The controversy was further heightened by a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja dismissing a suit seeking judicial recognition of the designation.

Justice James Omotosho held that the suit lacked merit, stressing that the statutory authority to confer the SAN rank rests with the LPPC.

However, the Nigerian Law Society and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria have maintained that they possess the autonomy to confer the SCN designation on their members under their internal rules and regulations.

Fani-Kayode reiterated that neither his representation at the conference nor any communication made on his behalf should be regarded as his personal endorsement or acceptance of the designation.

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the death of a prominent Ijaw leader in a boat accident, alongside years of transportation difficulties in Southern Ijaw, inspired his administration’s decision to construct roads and bridges linking communities in the area.

Diri said the tragic incident involving his kinsman, late Chief F.K. Agara, who died from injuries sustained in a boat mishap at Oporoma, strengthened his resolve to address the long-standing challenge of poor road connectivity in the oil-rich local government area.

The governor spoke on Thursday at his country home in Sampou while hosting a delegation of Southern Ijaw women and his former students from the 1986 set of Government Secondary School, Amassoma.

The delegation included the Acting Paramount Ruler of Amassoma, Chief Godswill Akedesuo, and the Commissioner for Women, Children Affairs, Empowerment and Social Development, Joanah Gigi, who were also among his former students.

Recalling the incident, Diri explained that Agara, a prominent Ijaw leader and politician, sustained fatal injuries after falling from a boat during a political campaign at Oporoma before the creation of Bayelsa State in 1996.

According to him, the boat’s propeller injured Agara, and despite being taken to Port Harcourt for medical attention, he eventually died.

Diri said the tragedy reinforced the need to establish reliable road connections between rural communities and the state capital, adding that he made it a priority after becoming governor.

He said, “One of my kinsmen died in a boat mishap at Oporoma when him and others were on a campaign. He fell off the boat and the propeller injured him. By the time he was taken back to Port Harcourt, he gave up. And I decided that I was going to break that jinx.”

The governor recalled that during his first-term campaign in 2019, residents of Southern Ijaw identified the construction of a road linking Oporoma, the local government headquarters, as one of their major demands.

He noted that the area had remained inaccessible by road for years, making transportation and access to essential services difficult for residents.

Diri said road infrastructure was crucial not only for connecting communities but also for stimulating economic activities, creating opportunities and accelerating development.

He acknowledged that the financial implications of constructing roads and bridges across the state, particularly in riverine communities, could have discouraged previous administrations.

However, he maintained that the high cost of the projects would not stop his government from pursuing its development agenda.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the completion of the bridges at Aguobiri and Angiama, as well as the extension of the road to Oporoma, describing the projects as significant milestones in opening up Southern Ijaw.

“On behalf of government, I thank you for your show of love and support for my administration. When the cost of constructing the bridges at Aguobiri and Angiama and the road to Oporoma was given, it was fearful and anybody could have chickened out.

“One of the features that brings about civilization is road infrastructure. Many communities like mine, Sampou, suffered the same fate because then they were not connected by road.

“I am as elated as you are that we completed the bridges and have taken the road to the Southern Ijaw local government headquarters. We can now drive to that place and to several other communities,” he said.

Diri further highlighted the improvement in transportation between communities following the projects, noting that travelling by boat from Oporoma to Olugbobiri now takes about 15 minutes, while the journey from Oporoma to Ekowe takes approximately five minutes.

He added that significant progress was also being made on the road project leading to Eniwari.

The governor said the recognition and support shown by the women would encourage his administration to pursue more infrastructure projects across the state.

Beyond infrastructure development, Diri also used the occasion to endorse Hon. Rodney Ambaiowei, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency.

He urged residents of Southern Ijaw to support President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates at all levels in the forthcoming elections, arguing that the President had supported Bayelsa State’s development efforts.

Diri maintained that improved road infrastructure would strengthen connectivity, expand economic opportunities and help communities that had remained isolated for decades become more accessible.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has declared a renewed war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State, calling for stronger collaboration among security agencies, religious organisations, parents and community leaders.

Marwa made the declaration on Thursday during an interactive stakeholder engagement in Benin, where he urged residents and relevant institutions to join forces with the agency to tackle the growing challenge of illicit drug use and trafficking.

The engagement, themed ‘Addressing the Drug Problem in Edo State’, attracted representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force, National Youth Service Corps, civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and community leaders, among others.

Speaking at the event, the NDLEA boss stressed that the fight against illicit drugs required a collective effort, noting that the agency could not effectively address the problem without the support of other stakeholders.

“I am here personally to declare war against drug abuse and trafficking in Edo State. Even though the NDLEA is the lead agency in the country for the enforcement of drug laws, we cannot do it alone,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to collaborate in tackling the menace, insisting that religious institutions, families, schools and community organisations all had important roles to play.

Marwa particularly called on parents and guardians to lead by example, monitor their children and intervene early whenever they notice signs of drug-related problems.

He also encouraged families to seek professional assistance for children already involved in drug abuse, stressing that there should be no stigma attached to seeking help.

“We must, as parents, engage early and seek help for our children. There is no shame in it. This is very important for our children and for the future of our country. Each of us must play our part,” he added.

The NDLEA chairman further linked illicit drug use to several criminal activities, warning that addressing substance abuse was essential to improving public safety and protecting communities.

As part of efforts to strengthen public awareness, Marwa disclosed that he would meet with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Islamic Council in Benin to secure their support in educating worshippers and communities about the dangers of drug abuse.

He said religious leaders could use their platforms to discourage illicit drug consumption and encourage community participation in prevention efforts.

The NDLEA boss also called on schools across the state to establish drug-free and counselling clubs to educate students and provide support for those facing drug-related challenges.

He urged students to report to their teachers and school authorities whenever anyone offered them illicit substances.

In addition, Marwa disclosed that he had directed members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to stop the sale of drugs and alcohol in motor parks across Edo State.

According to him, the union members had agreed to comply with the directive as part of efforts to prevent motor parks from becoming centres for illicit drug activities.

Earlier, the Edo State NDLEA Commander, Mitchell Ofoyeju, emphasised the importance of cooperation among security agencies in tackling drug abuse and trafficking.

Ofoyeju said the agency could not win the fight in isolation, noting that sustained collaboration was necessary to strengthen enforcement operations across the state.

He appreciated the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their continued support, adding that the arrests and seizures recorded by the NDLEA over the years would not have been possible without their cooperation.

The engagement forms part of efforts to strengthen stakeholder participation in preventing drug abuse, disrupting trafficking networks and building safer communities in Edo State.