‘We Were Not Consulted’ — NBA Declines To Allow UK Attorneys To Practice In Nigeria
The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the recent agreement to allow United Kingdom Attorneys to practice in Nigeria.
In “The Purported ETIP Agreement on Legal Services between the Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” the president of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), claimed that the Nigerian Bar Association was not consulted before taking such action, in an email sent to lawyers on Tuesday by 11:34 p.m.
He mentioned, “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.”
He stated that he always brought up the opposition to a bilateral agreement between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom on legal services in all of his meetings with representatives of the Law Society of England & Wales and the Bar Council of England & Wales.
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