The President of
the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Chile Eboe-Osuji, who
concluded his official visit to Nigeria last week, has called for the
federal government's support to fight against impunity "for the gravest
crimes but was silent on the petitions of the Indigenous People of
Biafra and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
The ICC was
petitioned last year to investigate the alleged killings, torture and
human rights abuses of IPOB members by soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
Also in 2017, SERAP
had petitioned the international court to consider the "allegations of
widespread systematic and large-scale corruption in the electricity
sector since the return of democracy in 1999 and under the governments
of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar'Adua, and Goodluck
Jonathan," whether they amount to crimes against humanity.
According to a
statement made available to BIAFRA NEWS MEN by the ICC, Eboe-Osuji, who was in
Nigeria from April 10 to 13, met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,
Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the Attorney
General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Solicitor General of
the Federation, Dayo Apata, and other senior government officials.
"The ICC president
expressed gratitude for Nigeria's strong commitment to the court, which
was reaffirmed by the senior authorities during the meetings held.
President Eboe-Osuji underlined that the active support of States is
crucial in re-energising the mission of the ICC, of which Nigeria is a
founding and important member. He recalled that victims are at the heart
of the Court's mandate, which aims to provide justice to those who have
suffered the worst atrocities, as well as protect populations from
future crimes.
"President
Eboe-Osuji further emphasised that the Court is keen to work together
with states in Africa to bolster the fight against impunity for the
gravest international crimes, and he hoped to count on Nigeria's support
in taking that process forward," the statement said.
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