NBA kicks against agreement to allow UK lawyers practice in Nigeria, says body was not consulted

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has kicked against the agreement reached by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United Kingdom, UK, to allow British lawyers practice law in Nigeria.

President of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, in a letter he released on Tuesday, February 13, titled ‘The Purported ETIP Agreement on Legal Services between the Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom,’ asserted that the association was not consulted before such step was taken.

His letter read, “My attention was drawn to the news-making round on a number of media platforms on the alleged signing of the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership Agreement, between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom. It was reported that this agreement seeks to enable cooperation between the two countries in areas such as financial and legal services. More bewildering is the stated provision that will allow lawyers from the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria. Understandably, this news has generated tremendous disquiet within and outside the legal profession in Nigeria.

“The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment was reported to have expressed delight over what she described as a ‘ground-breaking agreement’ that will translate to ‘more money’ for Nigeria.

“The NBA finds this statement credited to the Honourable Minister ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed. It is indeed unfortunate that this tragic reminder of our colonial past is being gleefully celebrated at the highest level of the Government of Nigeria. What is more disheartening is the fact that a decision of this magnitude that adversely affects the wellbeing and livelihood of millions of Nigerians could be taken without any consultation, especially with the Nigerian Bar Association.”

According to him, at all the meetings he had with officials of the Law Society of England & Wales and the Bar Council of England & Wales, he never failed to note the opposition to a bilateral agreement between the Government of Nigeria and that of the United Kingdom on legal services.