Release date: January 23, 2015

The Nigeria Coalition for the International Criminal Court heartily commends the recent decision of the International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to prosecute any individual responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity in Nigeria.

This decision is as a result of NCICC’s persistent and continuous request to the office of the Prosecutor (OTP – ICC) since 2009 asking it to investigate crimes against humanity committed in Nigeria considering that ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed in the territory of a State Party to the Rome Statute.

NCICC is particularly elated with the Prosecutor’s resolution to thoroughly investigate and prosecute atrocious crimes committed in Nigeria. This is contained in her statement following reports of gross and escalating violence in North east Nigeria especially the recent massacre in the towns of Baga and Doron Baga, the use of women and children as suicide bombers and the massive displacement of civilians by the Boko Haram sect.

The Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court also calls on the ICC Prosecutor to not only investigate and prosecute crimes against humanity committed by the Boko Haram insurgents but also prosecute such grievous crimes committed by any of the Nigerian government officials.

 

Chino Obiagwu

NCICC Chair

 

Onyinye Oguamah

Coordinator