The Federal Government of Nigeria reversed its earlier decision to allow licensed Lawyers from the United Kingdom to practice the profession in the country, as part of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) signed between Nigeria and the UK.
The bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom was heavily criticised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). NBA argued that the agreement puts Nigeria at a disadvantage, adding that the move was “unacceptable”, and the association will “take all necessary measures provided by our laws in support of our position on this matter.”
Nigerian Minister for Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite issued a statement on X clarifying that the Tuesday report “erroneously suggest that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practise in Nigeria.”
She wrote:
“Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MOU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership. It is a robust partnership understanding which promises to be a springboard for immense growth in trade relations with the United Kingdom.
“The Partnership was well thought-out and painstakingly negotiated by Nigerian experts across various sectors.
“It touched on areas of mutual business interests including finance, technical barriers to trade, healthcare, investment, customs and trade facilitation, agriculture, intellectual property, creative industry and legal services – to mention a few.
“Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggest that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practise in Nigeria.
The Minister maintained that there was no such legal agreement between the two countries.
“We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MOU.
“For avoidance of doubt, Nigeria does not have a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the United Kingdom and made no commitment, under the MOU or elsewhere, to allow UK-licensed lawyers practise in Nigeria.
“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the U.K.) cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MOU.
“We recognise that cross jurisdictional practice between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is still an on-going conversation amongst relevant stakeholders within the legal practitioners community in Nigeria, and this was reflected in the MOU,” Uzoka-Anite wrote in a series of posts on the social media platform.
