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.
This came following criticism from Nigerians over the perceived one-sided nature of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the UK.
The Nigerian Minister for Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite, in a thread on social media, retracted her earlier statement, emphasising that there was no such legal agreement between Nigeria and the UK.
She said, “Earlier today, Nigeria signed a far-reaching MOU with the United Kingdom for Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership.
“Regrettably, our earlier report erroneously suggest that Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding 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.”
The minister reiterated that Nigeria does not have a Mutual Recognition Agreement with the UK and made no commitment under the MOU or elsewhere, to allow UK-licensed lawyers practise in Nigeria.
Punch / Arafat Ayofe
