The Federal Government has retracted its earlier statement on the legal aspect of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership signed with the United Kingdom on Tuesday.
The Nigerian Minister for Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, revealed in a thread on X (formerly Twitter) that Nigeria does not have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the UK and made no commitment under the MOU or elsewhere to allow UK-licenced lawyers to practice in Nigeria.
Persecondnews reports that the retraction follows criticism from Nigerians over the perceived one-sided nature of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the UK.
“Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MoU with the United Kingdom for an Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.
“Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggests that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allows lawyers licensed in the United Kingdom to practice in Nigeria.
“We wish to state emphatically that there is no such provision or agreement in the MpU.
“As it currently stands, foreign licensed lawyers (including those licensed in the UK) cannot practice in Nigeria, as categorically stated in the MoU.
“We recognize that cross-jurisdictional practice between Nigeria and the United Kingdom is still an ongoing conversation amongst relevant stakeholders within the legal practitioner community in Nigeria, and this was reflected in the MoU,” she wrote.
Persecondnews reports that a statement by the UK’s Department of Business and Trade and a tweet from Nigeria’s Minister of Trade and Investment on Tuesday disclosed that Nigeria was set to sign a partnership agreement that will permit British legal practitioners to operate businesses and render services in Nigeria.
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