A delegation from the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) today concluded a three-day visit to the United Nations Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). During the visit, the Institute agreed to contribute to the setting up of a lasting legacy of ICTR ground breaking jurisprudential achievements in African academic institutions.

The delegation composed of the Institute’s Director General Professor D. A. Guobadia, the Director of Research, Professor A. O. Adekunle and the Head of the Department of International Law, Mr. P. T. Akper held talks with the President of the Tribunal, Judge Erik Møse, the Prosecutor Mr. Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the Registrar Mr. Adama Dieng and other senior officials of the Tribunal.

Major areas for possible cooperation with the Tribunal were identified such as regional sensitization on the work and judicial achievements of the Tribunal and establishment of closer cooperation between both Institutions for research and capacity building in the development of international humanitarian law and the administration of the international criminal justice system.

The Institute was established in 1979 as Nigeria’s foremost institution for legal research and advanced studies in law. In pursuance of its statutory mandate, the Institute has undertaken research, published books, organized and hosted national and international seminars, symposia, conferences, workshops and lectures on different aspects of law and related disciplines.

Such a visit is the second of its kind after a similar visit to the ICTR undertaken in May 2005 by members of the Law Faculty of the National University of Rwanda.