A Nigerian legal practitioner based in the United Kingdom, Baron Chymaker, has announced that he has officially commenced the process of giving up his Nigerian citizenship.
The lawyer disclosed that his legal representative in Nigeria had completed the necessary filing process by submitting his application to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), with all prescribed fees duly paid.
Chymaker made the announcement in a post shared on his X account on Thursday, expressing optimism that the process would soon be completed.
“I have today received a confirmation from my lawyer in Nigeria that my application to renounce my Nigerian citizenship has been submitted to the SGF and all fees paid as appropriate. I cannot wait for the approval,” he wrote.
The UK-based lawyer is widely recognised on social media for his commentaries on international law, legal practice in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as developments in cryptocurrency regulation.
Over the years, Chymaker has consistently voiced strong opinions on Nigeria’s legal and judicial system, particularly criticising certain principles governing judicial decision-making.
Among his recurring criticisms is the application of the doctrine of judicial precedent, commonly referred to as stare decisis, within Nigerian courts.
He has argued that strict adherence to judicial precedent has, in some instances, produced outcomes he considers unjust, especially in relation to election tribunal judgments and other politically significant cases.
The legal practitioner has also repeatedly encouraged Nigerian-trained lawyers to broaden their professional qualifications by pursuing advanced legal studies or exploring opportunities to practise in jurisdictions with more developed legal systems.
He has frequently shared such views through his social media platform, where he discusses legal reforms, comparative jurisprudence and professional development within the legal profession.
His latest announcement has attracted attention on social media, particularly among legal practitioners and Nigerians in the diaspora, given the rarity of high-profile citizens publicly declaring their intention to renounce Nigerian nationality.
Under Nigerian law, citizens who wish to renounce their citizenship are required to submit a formal declaration to the appropriate government authority.
The renunciation only becomes effective after the declaration has been registered and approved by the relevant authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
As of the time this report was filed, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation had not issued any official statement regarding Chymaker’s application or the status of the approval process.
