The Federal Government of Nigeria has reversed its earlier stance regarding the legal implications of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership signed with the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
This shift in position follows widespread criticism from Nigerians concerning the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked with the UK. Nigerian Minister for Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, issued a statement retracting her previous assertion, clarifying that no legal agreement exists between Nigeria and the UK permitting UK-licensed lawyers to practice in Nigeria.
Uzoka-Anite stated, “Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggested that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria. We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MoU.”
She emphasized that Nigeria does not currently have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the UK and has not made any commitments, under the MoU or otherwise, to allow UK-licensed lawyers to practice within its jurisdiction.
“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the UK) cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MoU,” Uzoka-Anite reiterated.
The minister highlighted that discussions regarding cross-jurisdictional legal practice between Nigeria and the UK are ongoing among relevant stakeholders in the legal community, acknowledging that this aspect was reflected in the MoU.
Earlier statements from the UK’s Department of Business and Trade, as well as a tweet from Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment, had indicated that Nigeria was entering into an agreement to remove barriers preventing UK lawyers from practicing international law in Nigeria. However, the Nigerian Bar Association denounced the purported agreement, describing the minister’s initial statement as “ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.”
