A “Groundbreaking Agreement” was signed between the UK and Nigeria yesterday, with the UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch making her maiden flight to Abuja for the occasion. As the Tinubu administration was celebrating, the Enhanced Trade Investment Partnership was immediately condemned by the Nigerian Bar Association, whose President, Yakubu Maikyau, called it a “reminder of our colonial past,” in that it was pronounced from on high, with no discussion with the affected individuals/groups.
Beyond mere “free trade,” the ETIP reportedly extends its reach into things such as education policy, and includes a section on legal/judicial area, which would effectively ‘remove barriers’ within the legal field with the absurd idea of allowing lawyers from one country to practice in the jurisdiction of the other. The UK announcement of Feb 13 stated: “It will see the UK and Nigeria’s shared aspiration to facilitate each other’s lawyers practicing foreign and international law in each other’s jurisdictions—a step which could significantly enhance legal services collaboration and exports...”