Cablegate: Nigeria: Article 98 Demarche On Nigeria's

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS ABUJA 000328

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF AND AF/W
ALSO FOR INL/E. FLOOD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS SNAR KCRM PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: ARTICLE 98 DEMARCHE ON NIGERIA'S
ATTORNEY GENERAL

1. Ambassador and Regional Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Officer (RNLEO) met with Attorney
General Kanu Agabi on 31 January 2003. In
addition to formally introducing the new RNLEO to
the Attorney General, the Ambassador delivered a
letter on Article 98 Agreements. The AG said he
would pass it on to the Solicitor General. In
addition, he stated that the GON was looking at
this issue and would get back to us. The
Ambassador explained the American Service
Protection Act and the impact it would have on our
robust security assistance relationship as well as
the implications of Article 98 Agreements for
Nigeria considering its role in peacekeeping.
Agabi stated that he would acquaint the President
with the matter so that when the Ambassador
discussed the issue, the President would know
about it.

2. On the issue of the Daniel Ohriunu extradition
case before the court, the AG stated that everything
was being done to expedite the case, to hear appeals
quickly and to punish judges that were found to be
corrupt. He further stated that he wanted to be in
court himself but couldn't. He directed his assistant
to put the matter on his calendar so that as soon as
he returned from his trip to New York, he would "take
over the matter himself."

The AG also stated that the Chief Judge of the Federal
High Court had assured him that she would appoint a
Judge to be in charge of hearing all extradition
cases. The next hearing on the Ohriunu case is
scheduled for 18 and 19 February. The AG hoped his
personal intervention would help accelerate the case
and get a judgment.

3. The AG, in his usual frank manner, commented that
it would be hard to enforce fair elections. He
pointed to the primaries stating that he wanted to
lower expectations that the elections would be "free
and fair" and meet the standards expected of a mature
democracy. "You must bear with us", he said, "Nigeria
still has a long way to go."

JETER

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