The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned a proposed agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom that would allow British lawyers to practice in Nigeria
The union described the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP) Agreement between Nigeria and the United Kingdom as “unacceptable” and “unpatriotic.”
The partnership, according to the UK government, will create opportunities across a breadth of sectors crucial to both economies, such as financial and legal services.
“It will see Nigeria commit to working towards removing barriers preventing UK lawyers from practising international and foreign law in Nigeria, a step that could significantly increase UK legal services exports.”
NBA President Yakubu Maikyau said in a statement that the deal was an unfortunate tragic reminder of Nigeria’s colonial past, which is being gleefully celebrated at the highest levels of the Nigerian government.
Maikyau said the decision was made without any consultation with the NBA, despite his consistent opposition to agreements compromising the legal space.
He cited instances from various meetings with UK officials in which he expressed opposition to a bilateral legal services agreement between the Nigerian and UK governments.
“I made the point in unmistakable terms, that the NBA does not support any bilateral agreement with the UK on legal services,” Maikyau stated.
“I emphasised that we are not yet at a place for such an agreement and that even if are to enjoy reciprocity with the UK (which is not an acceptable position), the knowledge and skills gap is so wide that we cannot favourably compete with the lawyers from the UK.
“I made it clear that while there can be an agreement or discussion on other trade matters, legal services was not on the table.”
He stated that he finds the Nigerian government’s justification for the agreement, claiming “more money” for Nigeria, “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 well-being and livelihood of millions of Nigerians, could be taken without any consultation, especially with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),” he said.
“We know for certain that the British government will not undermine its own body of legal professionals in the same way that this administration has done to the NBA in relation to this agreement.
He stressed that the UK government would never undermine its legal professionals in the same way that Nigeria’s government is attempting to deprive Nigerian lawyers and their millions of dependents of a source of income.
Maikyau then condemns the lack of consultation as “the height of insensitivity” and declares the ETIP agreement regarding legal services, “unacceptable in its entirety.”
The president therefore announced that the NBA will “take all necessary measures” to challenge the agreement’s legality, all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
