WTO: African Union Legal Office Rejects Okonjo-Iweala’s Nomination

The Office of the legal counsel of African Union has rejected the nomination of the federal republic of Nigeria for the position director-general for the World Trade Organisation.

Speaking via press statement made available to Naija news, the counsel faulted Okonjo-Iweala nomination, the World Trade Organisation (WTO)  stating that the candidature is not in line with extant rules of the African Union.

Commenting on the appropriateness or otherwise of Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s nomination, the council noted that the submission of the candidates shall be in line with certain stipulated conditions. It referenced rules 11 (1,2,3) and 12 of the Rules of Committee.

“All candidatures shall be submitted to the Committee, through the AU C0mmission (The Political Affairs Department). The Political Affairs Department should acknowledge receipt containing the date and the stamp of submission,” it said.

“Candidatures shall be submitted to the Commission at least two (2) months prior to the Sessions of the Executive Council, which shall consider them. The submission shall be accompanied by relevant information related to the submitted candidatures, including the nature of each post, date and place of elections,” it added.

Furthermore, the counsel argued that the rules state that the Committee may accept candidatures submitted after the deadline “only when no other candidatures for the position have been submitted in the prescribed time; the submission of candidatures has been closed; and there are more vacancies reserved for Africa than the submissions received, among others”.

Naija News recalls that Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, was nominated for the position by President Muhammadu Buhari after Nigeria withdrew the candidacy of Yunov Agah, who had earlier gotten the approval of AU Executive Council.

The two other African candidates shortlisted by the AU alongside Mr Agah were Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, a trade lawyer, member of the WTO Secretariat, and trade negotiator for Egypt; and Beninoise Eloi Laourou, the ambassador and permanent representative of Benin to the United Nations and other organisations in Geneva.

here is the copy of the press statement below  made Available made to Naija News

Legal opinion – ministerial committee – candidature