Nigerian Law Society Challenges CJN’s ‘Barrister’ Ban, Says Directive Lacks Legal Basis. Its position centres on the Legal Practitioners Act, the principal legislation governing legal practice in Nigeria. The terminology has long been associated with the country’s legal profession, although the Legal Practitioners Act principally uses the statutory expression “legal practitioner.” Legal scholarship and previous judicial decisions have also recognized the use of “barrister” within the Nigerian legal system. The Legal Practitioners Act establishes several statutory bodies and assigns specific responsibilities relating to legal practice, professional discipline and admission to the Bar.