The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN) has been elected into the Governing Council of the United Nations International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in Rome, Italy.

The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law is an Independent Intergovernmental organization with its seat in the Villa Aldobrandini in Rome. Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernizing, harmonizing and coordinating private international law, and in particular, commercial law, between States, and to draft international Conventions to address the needs.

Membership to UNIDROIT is restricted to States acceding to the UNIDROIT statute. Its 61 member States are drawn from five continents, and represents a variety of different legal, economic, and political systems as well as different cultural backgrounds.

A statement from the Special Assistant to the Minister (Media)and made valilable to newsmen in Abuja, Onov Tyuulugh said in a keenly contested election held at the Institute on December 11, 2008, and attended by representatives from the 61 member countries, "Aondoakaa emerged as the only African member on the 25 member Governing Council of UNIDROIT."

According to the statement: "Aondoakaa has dedicated his victory to the Rule of Law and claimed that it was a universal acceptance of the effort of President Umaru Musa Yar' adua to enthrone the rule of law in Nigeria. Aondoakaa said he would dedicate himself to the Rule of Law and ensure that Nigeria and indeed, Africa benefit from his membership of the governing Council of UNIDROIT."