February 14, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has said its Trade and investment partnership agreement with the United Kingdom (UK), has no provision allowing British lawyers licenced in the U.K to practice in Nigeria.
Minister of Trade and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, made the clarification on Tuesday, in a post on X.
According to the Minister, Nigeria does not have such Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) with the UK, saying foreign licenced lawyers (including those licenced in the U.K.) cannot practice in Nigeria.
The post reads: “Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MOU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership. It is a robust partnership understanding which promises to be a springboard for immense growth in trade relations with the United Kingdom
“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.
“For avoidance of doubt, 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.
“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the U.K.) cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MOU.
“We recognise that cross jurisdictional practice between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is still an on-going conversation amongst relevant stakeholders within the legal practitioners community in Nigeria, and this was reflected in the MOU.”
