"Hence, Nigeria's substitution/replacement of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as candidate for DG-WTO cannot be treated as fresh nomination for the position, and as such cannot be said, or even imagined "not to conform" with Rules 11 (1,2,3,4,5), 12 or indeed any of the Rules of Procedure deliberately highlighted by OLC to mislead.

In addition, the federal government explained that to state that "Nigeria is latching on its sovereign right to change existing rules of procedure and relevant decisions of executive council as well as decisions of other policy organs," was unbecoming, unfortunate and a gross misinterpretation and misrepresentation of facts from an office established to be dispassionate, neutral and professional.

"It is in the spirit of the stated Assembly Decision 795(XXXIII) of February, 2020, as well as other relevant decisions, that after due consultations, the Republic of Benin stepped down her candidate in total support of Nigeria's Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for DG-WTO; and,

"That the WTO has acted upon the withdrawal of the nomination of Ambassador Yonov Frederick Agah and accepted and processed the nomination of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as appropriate.

"In view of the highlights provided above, it is demonstrably clear that the OLC has substantially failed to substantiate how the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercising her sovereign right, flouted any of the said decisions or rules of procedure, as none of them categorically precludes the substitution of a candidate by the member-states.

Meanwhile, in a June 15, 2020, Note Verbale, the country had explained that it was true that the Executive Council, through Decision EX.CL/Dec.1072 (XXXV) of July 2019, called on all AU member-states to consider presenting competent candidates to the AU Ministerial Committee on Candidatures in the International System for the position of DG-WTO by 30th November, 2019, with a view to endorsing one candidate during the February, 2020 36th Ordinary Session.

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