The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the recent agreement to allow United Kingdom Attorneys to practice in Nigeria.
The NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), in an email to lawyers of the Nigerian Bar Association on Tuesday by 11:34 pm, 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.
He said, “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.
