The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has rejected the agreement between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Government of the United Kingdom on the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership (ETIP).
The President of the NBA, Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) made the position of the Association known in the agreement, which covers a number of economic sectors, including legal services while addressing a press conference on the state of the nation on Wednesday in Abuja.
The initial statement from the office of the Honourable Minister for Investment, Trade, and Industries stated that the agreement will allow lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria.
“We note the Honourable Minister’s recent comment that this was a statement made in error. Irrespective of the Ministers clarification, we want to state clearly that the objection of the NBA to the said agreement persists,” the NBA boss stated.
The NBA, he said, has been involved in several meetings where the idea of allowing UK-licensed lawyers in the country’s legal space was discussed and, the NBA is very clear about the intention of the agreement.
“In all these meetings we unequivocally said that the state of the Nigerian economy presently does not allow for such agreement. Government is saddled with the responsibility of creating opportunities not only for its more than 140,000 lawyers currently practicing across the country but also for the over 4000 new wigs that are called to the bar yearly.
“It is very sad that while the UK government is creating opportunities for its lawyers outside the United Kingdom, the Government of Nigeria by its action or omission seeks to shrink the legal space for an already burdened legal practice.
“What efforts has the government of Nigeria made to ensure that Nigerian lawyers have access to the UK legal environment? What is even more tragic is that the agreement was entered into without engaging the NBA on the text of the agreement.
“This is a clear indication of the limited recognition the Government of Nigeria
attaches to its professional bodies. We are certain that the UK government will not treat its law society and bar council in such despicable manner,” Maikyau said and added that the NBA rejected the agreement in so far as it relates to legal services.
He said the NB fully intends to seek judicial review of the agreement including up to the supreme court if necessary.
“This is the same situation as with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). While we must accept the reality of globalisation and open our borders for transnational trade and exchange of services, this must be done strategically, purposefully, without and endangering the already exposed and weakened Nigerian market,” he said and therefore, requested a wholistic review of all the agreements under the ETIP and the AfCFTA, particularly in view of the developments in the ECOWAS sub-region.
The NBA, he said has begun the process of mobilising its members for a possible nationwide public demonstration in objection to this agreement.
