Posted by A change in policy by the federal government has reversed its former stance on the practice of law by citizens of the United Kingdom.
The statement by Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Nigerian Minister of Trade and Investment, emphasized that as a result of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership that was signed between Nigeria and the UK on Tuesday, lawyers trained in the UK are now able to practice law in Nigeria.
Following intense backlash, especially from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Uzoka-Anite withdrew her previous comments.
Earlier today, Nigeria and the United Kingdom signed a far-reaching MoU for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership,” Uzoka-Anite wrote in a succession of posts on her X account.
“Unfortunately, we were misleading when we said that Nigeria had signed an MOU allowing British lawyers to work in Nigeria. This is no longer the case. We would like to emphasize that the MoU does not contain any such provision or agreement.
According to the minister, Nigeria has never promised to recognize or approve the practice of law by attorneys licensed in the United Kingdom, and the country does not even have an MRA with the UK.
“As stated explicitly in the MoU, at this time, no foreign-licensed lawyer, including a UK licensee, may practise law in Nigeria.
“We acknowledge that there is a continuing dialogue among relevant stakeholders in Nigeria’s legal practitioners community regarding cross-jurisdictional practice with the United Kingdom, and this was reflected in the MoU,” she continued.
Remember that on Tuesday, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau issued a statement denouncing the alleged agreement, calling the Minister’s supposed comments “ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.”