UNCLAS ABUJA 002685

SIPDIS


DEPARTMENT FOR AF AND IO


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM NI UN
SUBJECT: ILC BALLOT BID FOR NIGERIAN ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
MINISTER OF JUSTICE CHIEF BOLA IGE



1. This is an action request for IO and AF: see para 5.



2. During an October 16 meeting with Nigeria's Attorney
General and Minister of Justice Bola Ige, the Ambassador
learned that Nigeria had nominated Ige for a seat on the
International Law Commission (ILC) and has been lobbying for
his candidacy for several months.



3. Ige, 71, has been Attorney General and Minister of Justice
since June 2000. He has held numerous judicial and political
offices in his career, including Governor of Oyo State
(1979), Minister of Power and Steel in the current
government, and several commissioner positions in the
now-defunct Western state (1960s-70s). A Senior Advocate of
Nigeria (SAN), he has practiced law widely throughout
Nigeria. He holds a leading member of the Alliance for
Democracy (AD)- one of Nigeria's three political parties -
and is the deputy leader of "Afenifere," the Pan-Yoruba
cultural association. Though formally a member of the
opposition, he is close to resident Obasanjo whme he has know
since the 1960s.



4. The Mission deals with Ige on a wide array of law
enforcement and judicial issues. We find him to be one of our
most capable and impressive interlocutors. Ige is highly and
broadly respected here. We recommend the USG support his
candidacy for the ILC. If the USG can vote for him in the
upcoming November 8 election at the UNGA, we should. We
strongly endorse him based on his qualifications, influence
and character.



5. Action request for IO and AF: Please advise USG position
on Ige's candidacy. End action request.
Jeter