THIRTEEN leading African lawyers, some of them chief law officers oftheir countries, including Nigeria's Attorney-General, Mohammed Bello Adoke, arecampaigning to win one of the nine seats on the United Nations' law body, the International Law Commission (ILC).Elections into the ILC are held at the UN General Assembly every five years, in line with the five-year tenure of the members of the commission. The next election, in which Adoke will be a contestant, will hold on November 17, 2011.In all, there are 34 seats on the commission, and all the seats are up for grabs in next month elections with 50 candidates from across the world jostling for a seat.Each of thecandidates hasalready been nominated by their countries, which aremember-states of the UNfor the 34 seats. According to Article 8 of the ILC statutes, 'at the election, the electors should bear in mind that the persons to be elected to the commission should individually possess the qualifications required,' and must have a 'recognised competence in international law.'UN sources say Adoke's candidacy is rated high based on both his individual attainments in areas of international law and what a source at the UN described as 'his charm.'Besides, Adoke already secured the endorsement ofECOWAS, as Nigeria's high ranking among the UN Africa Group is said to be in his favour.A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adokehad, earlier in May, been elected into the Commission to complete the tenure of former Attorney-General, Bayo Ojo, who had won theelection in 2006 for a five-year tenure that ends in December, 2011.Adoke's involvement in the work of the ILC is also seen as another advantage for him in an election where four African nominees would have to loose.But the election offers Adoke an opportunity to start a fresh five-year tenure of his own if he wins, starting in January 2012 till December 2017.As part of his campaign for the seat, the Nigerian Permanent Mission to the UN helda well-attended reception for Adoke Thursday afternoon at the Nigeria House in New York, where he had the opportunity to interact with other UN diplomats, many of whom would be participating in the General Assembly elections for the ILC.At the reception hosted by Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof Joy Ogwu, were top diplomats and Federal Government officials, including Ambassador Raff Bukun Onemola, the deputy Nigerian Permanent Representative, and Mr. Richard Adejola, Nigeria's Election and Campaign Officer at the Nigeriamission to the UN, among others.By the nature of the ILC, those elected into the commission serve in their private capacities,even though they are nominated by their countries.Elected commission members can, therefore,keep the position even if they are not serving their governments.For instance Ojo, who was elected into the commission in 2006 as Attorney General of the Federation, kept his ILC seat evenafter he left the cabinet position. Ojo chose to resign this May however even though he could have kept the office until the end of the year.In the same light, if elected, Adoke will be a member of the commission till 2017, regardless of his status in the federal cabinet.Other African candidates currentlyjostling for a seat in the forthcoming ILC elections come from Cote D'Ivoire, Mozambique, Libya, Mali, Egypt, Cameroon, Algeria, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Sudan and KenyaThe ILC's object is the promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification.Former Nigerian Attorneys-Generalwho have been elected to the ILC, apart from Chief Bayo Ojo, include Chief Bola Ige, who won but was assassinated before he took the seat. Others include Dr. Taslim Elias, Chiefs Richard Akinjide and Bola Ajibola, all of whom were all former Attorneys-General.Dr. Taslim Elias, was the first Nigerian elected to the ILC in 1962 and served all through 1975. Next was Chief Richard Akinjide, who came to the ILC in 1982 and served till 1986. Then Chief Bola Ajibola, who was on the ILC immediately after Akinjide and served till 1991.Like Ojo did, other Nigerian ILC members also kept their seats on the commission after quitting the cabinet.Chief Akinjide for instance, kept the seat three years after the sacking of the Shagari government of which he was AG. Even Chief Ajibola, after he was no longer AG under IBB still kept the seat until 1991.
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