Abstract
Throughout the history of international law and practice, and even before the codification of the international treaties that serve as
working documents for various States with respect to fostering friendly international relations, diplomatic agents as well as
Consular officers have indeed enjoyed a special status. Their functions which include negotiating and entering into agreements
with other States and acting as the middle men between their sending States and receiving States demand certain special privileges and immunities. These privileges and immunities are not to benefit individuals, but to ensure the efficient performance of their functions. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
1961 and Consular Relations 1963 are the two basic treaties that provide for the privileges and immunities of diplomatic agents. Despite the existence of various privileges and immunities which seek to protect diplomatic agents, as well as facilitate their functions, there have been series of reported cases of abuse of these
diplomatic privileges and immunities by diplomatic agents and crimes of abuse against diplomatically protected individuals. In the
light of the above, this article seeks to examine and appraise the relevance or otherwise of diplomatic privileges and immunities in
Nigeria.
Keywords: Diplomatic Agent, Consular Officer, Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities.
