President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, has voiced his opposition to a recent agreement by the Federal Government to permit United Kingdom lawyers to practice within Nigeria.
Maikyau conveyed his concerns in an email circulated to members of the association titled, “Challenges with the Alleged ETIP Agreement on Legal Services between Nigeria and the United Kingdom,” on Tuesday.
The agreement in question, known as the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), aims to enhance trade, investments, and remove barriers within the legal services sector, enabling British lawyers to practice in Nigeria and vice versa.
While the UK government heralded the deal as a significant step forward in bolstering economic ties, Maikyau expressed dismay at the lack of consultation with the NBA, emphasizing the potential adverse effects on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.
Maikyau highlighted that he became aware of the agreement through various media reports, criticizing the government’s failure to engage the association in discussions prior to its signing.
Furthermore, he criticized the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, for her portrayal of the agreement as groundbreaking, dismissing her remarks as “ridiculous, unpatriotic, and uninformed.”
Asserting the NBA’s stance against any agreement compromising Nigeria’s legal autonomy, Maikyau emphasized the wide knowledge and skills gap between Nigerian lawyers and their British counterparts, rendering fair competition unlikely.
He underscored the disparity between the UK government’s support for its legal professionals and Nigeria’s perceived neglect of its legal community, characterizing the situation as tragic.
Maikyau categorically rejected the ETIP agreement concerning legal services, vowing to utilize legal measures available to the association to oppose it.
In conclusion, he urged NBA members to stand firm in defense of the association’s jurisdiction, affirming his commitment to resisting any encroachment on Nigeria’s legal domain during his tenure.
