PLANNING A USG-GON EXTRADITION EXCHANGE

UNCLAS ABUJA 002224

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR INL/AAE--PRAHAR AND FLOOD AND FOR AF/W-BOOTH
DOJ FOR OIA-JASON CARTER


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV NI
SUBJECT: PLANNING A USG-GON EXTRADITION EXCHANGE


This is an action message: Action request for INL/AAE in
para 5.



1. Several discussions with Nigeria's Attorney General and
his staff over the past three months have produced agreement
on the terms of an extradition exchange or consultations to
be funded by INL and implemented by DOJ's Office of
Prosecutorial Development and Training (OPDAT) program.



2. The consultations by visiting DOJ/OPDAT prosecutors, will
involve 10-15 Nigerian public prosecutors and up to five high
court judges in a frank and open discussion of the US and
Nigerian processes in handling extradition requests. The
main goal of this activity is to identify obstacles to
effecient extraditions in Nigerian law and procedures and
either correct these or find ways to mitigate them. Also
attending will be a few special advisors to the Attorney
General and, Mission hopes, the recently retired director of
Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Malouku, who has extensive
experience in handling past USG extradition requests. The
Attorney General's office agrees with our desired priority in
selecting public prosecutors who have prior experience in
extradition cases.



3. The Attorney General has explicitly pledged to form a
prosecutorial extradition unit from the pool of public
prosecutors participating in this exchange. This unit would
consist of four or five prosecutors dedicated to handling
extradition cases. Once a new Chief Judge is named to head
the Federal High Court, the Attorney General will seek his
cooperation in designating one High Court judge to handle
extradition cases exclusively.



4. Post has proposed, and the Attorney General's office
endorses, a mid-October timeframe for the four or five day
exchange in Abuja. Post's RNLEO would assist OPDAT with the
selection of a suitable site for these consultations as well
as all necessary logistical arrangements. The AG's office
has not asked for any per diem for participating MOJ
prosecutors or High Court judges, though we anticipate
funding per diem for Mrs. Malouku and a few participating
prosecutors who work in High Court venues outside of Abuja
(e.g. Lagos and Kaduna).



5. Action Request for INL/AAE: Please coordinate a formal
response with DOJ's Office of International Affairs (POC:
Jason Carter, 616-3073) indicating OPDAT and DOJ prosecutors'
availability to travel to Abuja for a week in mid-October.
This activity will draw on existing and unused FY2000 INL
funds ($75,000) already obligated to OPDAT for extradition
training.
Andrews