By Halimah Olamide
The Federal Government on Wednesday made a u-turn on its earlier declaration that lawyers lisence in the United Kingdom can now practise in Nigeria.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka -Anite stated this in a series of tweets in her official X handle on Wednesday.
Her retraction came amidst outcry by the Nigerian Bar Association which kicked against the controversial Memorandum of Understanding purportedly signed between Nigerian and the UK.
The Minister said there have been some misinformation in the manner the MoU was communicated to Members of the public leading to the outrage.
“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the U.K.) cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MOU,” she stated
She further said that 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.
Confirming that Nigeria signed what she called “a far-reaching MOU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership,” Anite said “It is a robust partnership understanding which promises to be a springboard for immense growth in trade relations with the United Kingdom.”
She went further, “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.
“We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MOU.”
President Of the NBA, Yacubu Chonoko Maikyau had raised the alarm on Wednesday over the agreement.
He had in a statement by Habeeb Akorede, National Publicity Secretary of the NBA , described the agreement as unpatriotic and reminder of the colonial past.