The Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) has filed petitions before the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), alleging misconduct, conflict of interest, and undue interference in proceedings relating to the controversial “Blue Silks” rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria (SCN).
The NJC petition, signed by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, SCN, Executive Secretary of ALDRAP, accuses the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, of participating in an LPPC disciplinary panel that made findings on the Blue Silks rank while related litigation was pending before the Federal High Court. ALDRAP argues this created an appearance of prejudgment and calls for investigation into whether Justice Tsoho’s conduct met judicial standards of impartiality.
At the centre of the complaint is an 11 May 2026, report of the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC). The report arose from a petition by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) against Mrs. Joy Adesina, SAN, Prof. Amari Omaka, SAN and Prof. Sylvester Shkyl, SAN, concerning their alleged association with ALDRAP and the Blue Silks rank. The LPPC report examined the allegations and ultimately recommended that the petition be struck out against the first and second respondents.
According to the NJC petition, Justice Tsoho participated in the LPPC investigation and signed the report in his capacity as Chairman of the panel, even though a related lawsuit concerning the legality of the Blue Silks rank was allegedly pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja. ALDRAP argues that the circumstances created an appearance of possible prejudgment because the Chief Judge was involved in making findings on the subject matter while related judicial proceedings were still before the court.
The petition further alleges that the LPPC report described the Blue Silks rank promoted by ALDRAP as “illegal” and made findings concerning senior lawyers described as Matrons and Patrons of the association. ALDRAP maintains that these findings were capable of affecting the subsequent judicial consideration of the dispute over the rank. It therefore asks the NJC to investigate whether Justice Tsoho’s participation in the LPPC proceedings was consistent with the standards expected of a judicial officer.
Another major issue raised in the petition concerns the reassignment of the ALDRAP-related suit. ALDRAP alleges that the case was initially assigned to Hon. Justice Mohammed Garba Umar in November 2025 but was later reassigned to Hon. Justice James Omotosho in March 2026. The petition points out that Justice Omotosho had already been confirmed for elevation to the Court of Appeal at the time of the reassignment and asks the NJC to examine the circumstances surrounding the change of judge.
ALDRAP also draws attention to a judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho on 13 May 2026 in the proceedings involving the association. According to the petition, Justice Omotosho had earlier appeared favourably disposed towards the submissions of counsel representing ALDRAP but subsequently delivered judgment against the association. The petitioner asks the NJC to obtain the transcript and court recording of the proceedings to determine the context of a statement attributed to Justice Omotosho that “my hands are tied” and to examine whether anything outside the normal judicial process may have influenced the outcome.
The petition is careful to state that ALDRAP is not asking the NJC to sit on appeal over the judgment delivered by Justice Omotosho. Rather, it wants the Council to investigate whether any administrative, institutional or other external influence was brought to bear on the judicial process. It also asks for an examination of the circumstances surrounding the reassignment of the case and whether the process was carried out in accordance with established judicial administrative procedures.
The petition also places emphasis on the fact that Justice Tsoho is the Chief Judge and administrative head of the Federal High Court and therefore occupies a superior administrative position to Justice Omotosho. ALDRAP argues that this relationship makes the circumstances surrounding the reassignment and subsequent proceedings matters deserving of independent examination. The association says it is prepared to provide further documentary and oral evidence, including court records, transcripts, recordings and correspondence.
In a separate complaint to the CCB, dated 19 August 2026, ALDRAP accuses Justice Tsoho of violating Sections 5 and 16 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act by failing to disclose his involvement in LPPC proceedings despite knowing the Blue Silks rank was subject to litigation. The association alleges conflict of interest and abuse of office, insisting that the matter deserves scrutiny under Nigeria’s judicial ethics and conduct framework.
On the allegation of conflict of interest, ALDRAP claims that Justice Tsoho accepted the role of Chairman of a panel of the Disciplinary and Ethics Sub-Committee of the LPPC in May 2026 without disclosing that, as Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, he was aware that the legality of the Blue Silks rank was already the subject of litigation before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division. The association argues that he ought either to have recused himself or disclosed the circumstances to the LPPC.
The CCB complaint also repeats the allegation that Justice Tsoho had previously assigned and subsequently reassigned the relevant lawsuit to Justice Mohammed Garba Umar and Justice James Omotosho respectively. It alleges that, in exercising his administrative powers as Chief Judge, Justice Tsoho mounted undue pressure on Justice Omotosho to deliver a judgment on 13 May 2026 which, according to the complaint, was consistent with a decision he had participated in making as Chairman of the LPPC panel. These are allegations contained in the complaint and have not been established by a court.
The CCB complaint further states that the action against Justice Tsoho is separate from the complaint already filed before the NJC. According to ALDRAP, the CCB complaint concerns alleged violations of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, while the NJC petition concerns the conduct of a judicial officer and alleged violations of the standards applicable to judicial officials.
The documents also contain an important response to the earlier controversy surrounding the Blue Silks rank. The LPPC report recorded that Mrs. Joy Adesina, SAN, denied having any interest in the Blue Silk initiative and said she had dissociated herself from ALDRAP after learning in 2025 that the organisation was promoting the rank. Prof. Amari Omaka also denied being a patron of ALDRAP. The LPPC ultimately recommended that the petition be struck out against the first and second respondents.
The documents further show that counsel for Mrs. Adesina, SAN, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, urged the panel to dismiss the petition against her. Counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Olumide Sofowora, SAN, had urged the panel to grant the reliefs contained in the petition. Prof. Omaka represented himself and adopted his written response. These proceedings form part of the background to the subsequent complaints against Justice Tsoho.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond the original controversy over whether the Blue Silks rank can be conferred on lawyers. It has now raised wider questions about judicial administration, the independence and impartiality of judicial officers, the limits of administrative powers exercised by heads of courts, and the need to avoid even the appearance of conflict or prejudgment where a matter is already before a court.
ALDRAP is asking the NJC and CCB to independently examine the allegations and determine whether any misconduct, conflict of interest, abuse of office or improper administrative influence occurred. The association says its objective is not to undermine the judiciary but to ensure that the judicial process remains transparent, impartial and worthy of public confidence.
The petitions now place the controversy before two important oversight institutions. While the NJC is being asked to examine the conduct of the Chief Judge in his capacity as a judicial officer and administrative head of the Federal High Court, the CCB has been asked to consider the allegations under the Code of Conduct framework. The outcome of any investigation by either body could therefore have significant implications for the ongoing debate surrounding the Blue Silks rank and the administration of justice.
For now, the allegations remain claims contained in petitions and supporting documents, and no finding of wrongdoing against Justice Tsoho has been established by the NJC, CCB or any court. The petitions are calling for investigation, and the relevant institutions will have the opportunity to consider the evidence and any response from the Chief Judge before reaching their own conclusions.