International and Comparative Law

The International and Comparative Law Department has been in existence since the creation, of the Federal Ministry of Justice. It is one of the pioneer departments of the Ministry; a very important Department, vested with responsibilities not only important to the Ministry but crucial to the sovereignty of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as a political entity and a player on the international scene.
In line with our statutory functions and in conformity with the SERVICOM’s goal of effective service delivery, the Department’s Vision and Mission are as follows:

Vision

Our vision is to ensure a proactive Nigerian image while cooperating with the International community in promoting world peace and that Nigeria is seen to be a fore runner in the fight against international and cross- border crimes.

Mission

Our mission is to protect Nigeria’s interest and work towards deriving a Maximum advantage from our foreign relations. Right from its creation the Department has performed the following responsibilities in accordance with the Ministry’s white paper and each administration’s policy.

Functions Of The Department Of International And Comparative Law

The ICL plays a critical role in the handling of legal aspects of the Federal Government relations with other countries of the world and international development partners. The Department works in collaboration with MDAs, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide the following services:

• advising government on its Treaty obligations in international relations with foreign nations and other entities, and ensuring the observance of the obligations through the monitoring, preparation and collation of periodic reports of such obligation in relation to international organizations;
• participate in the negotiation of bilateral and multilateral agreements between Nigeria and other countries;
• vetting of draft international agreements proposed between Nigeria and other countries;
• rendering advice on the criteria for lending support to candidates for various international positions;
• representing the Ministry in meetings and conferences of the United Nations, its Organs, Agencies as well as other International Bodies to which Nigeria is a member;
• preparation of the Instruments of Ratification, Accession, Denunciation, Treaties, Protocols and Conventions to which Nigeria is signatory;
• ensuring that all Treaties entered into by Nigeria are registered and deposited in the Ministry in accordance with sections 4 and 5 of the Treaties (Making Procedure) Act;
• responding to communications from the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) on allegations of violation of Human Rights;
• handles requests for legal assistance from various Embassies and the International Community;
• coordinates defense of cases involving Nigeria before the International Court of Justice, (ICJ), ECOWAS Community Court, etc.; and
• processing of communications of foreign Court processes and cooperating in the processes leading to the enforcement of foreign judgments.