[VIDEO] Dress Code For Legal Practitioners In Question As Lawyer Appears Before Court In Blue Suit

One of the hallmarks of the Nigerian profession is the prescribed dress code for lawyers appearing before courts which promotes modesty and the conservative nature of the profession.

Specifically, Rule 6 (b) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for the Legal Profession 2007 provide sas follow;

“while the court is in session, a lawyer should not assume an undignified posture, and should not, without the judge’s permission, remove his wig and gown in the courtroom. He should always be attired in a proper and dignified manner, and abstain from apparel or ornament calculated to attract attention to himself.”

Generally, the approved attire for male lawyers includes:

Dark suits (preferable black), white shirts (winged collar or white detachable collars) and a white bib, black socks and black shoes, stripped black trousers may be worn.

For female lawyers, White blouse, dark jacket (preferably black) and black skirts, covering knees (dark suit) and black shoes are to be worn with white collarette and bib. there should be no embroidery and trimmings of any type, and only moderate jewelry.

In both cases counsel  shall wear also, a wig and Barristers’ Gown and refrain from any other apparel not specifically mentioned above or provided by any regulation made by the Bar Council or the Body of Benchers. As of today, the foregoing remains the only mode of dressing approved for lawyers appearing before superior courts of record in Nigeria.

In the Rules of several Courts in Nigeria, any lawyer not properly dressed according to the accepted standard is not granted audience by the court.

However, reactions have begun to trail the video of lawyer who appeared before the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, 26th July in a flashy blue double-breasted suit.

The said lawyer, Pius Danba Esq who was representing the Peoples Democratic Party in their suit challenging the substitution of running mates by the Presidential Candidates of the All Progressives Congress and Labour Party, was seen addressing the media after the proceeding in a video that has raised eyebrows.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday shifted till August 12, a suit filed by PDP challenging the propriety of the substitution of the running mates for the APC and Labour Party. pic.twitter.com/HqOsBOBQmI

— Channels Television (@channelstv) July 27, 2022

A lawyer who captured Danba on TV told TheNigeriaLawyer that he wonders what is happening to the Nigerian legal profession saying he finds the dressing absurd as the Court granted the said lawyer audience.

“I captured this on Channels TV yesterday. This is how a counsel was dressed to court to argue a matter before the Federal High Court Abuja wearing a blue coloured suit to appear and sadly the judge granted him audience and he thereafter addressed the press dressed like this. What is happening to our profession? Has there ceased to be a dress code? I personally find this absurd.”

When reached for comments, Danba claimed the suit was a dark blue suit which is permissible by the dress code, saying his appearance was okayed by the Court.

As at the time of filing the report, no member of the NBA or Body of Benchers have reacted to the issue.

In recent times, the legal profession has been shrouded in controversies regarding the observance and equal enforcement of rules guiding the profession.

As the profession still tries to settle the dust raised by the letter of the NBA President, Olumide Akpata to the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Wole Olanipekun urging the latter to step aside and allow an unbiased trial of a Partner in his law firm for alleged infractions of the Rules of Professional Conduct, pundits and observers still await how this alleged breach of dress code will be sorted out.