The Nation Newspaper

Tag: International Criminal Court

  • ICC calls U.S. sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ against court’s independence

    ICC calls U.S. sanctions ‘flagrant attack’ against court’s independence

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) said yesterday that U.S. sanctions against two of its judges over its case involving Israel were a “flagrant attack” on the court’s independence.

    “Such measures targeting judges and prosecutors who were elected by the States Parties undermine the rule of law. When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk,” the court said.

    The U.S. had sanctioned two more ICC judges from the latest step in the Trump administration’s campaign to punish those involved with efforts to investigate Israel’s conduct in the war in Gaza.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio yesterday said he was imposing sanctions against Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia and Erdenebalsuren Damdin of Mongolia for being “directly engaged in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute Israeli nationals, without Israel’s consent, including voting with the majority in favour of the ICC’s ruling against Israel’s appeal on December 15.”

    On Monday, the Hague-based court rejected Israel’s bid to block the ongoing probe into its alleged crimes in Gaza.

    Read Also: OAU undergraduate Rashidat Fagbenle wins US-Nigeria video talent contest

    In a statement yesterday, the ICC denounced the new sanctions, calling them “a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution.”

    “When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk,” the statement said. The U.S. and Israel have repeatedly rejected the authority of the ICC to investigate either country’s conduct.

    “We will not tolerate ICC abuses of power that violate the sovereignty of the United States and Israel and wrongly subject U.S. and Israeli persons to the ICC’s jurisdiction,” Rubio said in a statement Thursday.

    “We will continue to respond with significant and tangible consequences to the ICC’s lawfare and overreach,” he said.

    The Trump administration has imposed a slew of sanctions on ICC judges and its chief prosecutor, as well as organizations it said have supported the investigation.

    The court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The court also issued arrest warrants for three top Hamas officials.

  • International Criminal Court condemns U.S. sanctions move

    International Criminal Court condemns U.S. sanctions move

    The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday condemned an executive order signed by United States President Donald Trump imposing punitive sanctions, countering that the order sought to “harm its independent and impartial judicial work.”

    The court was established by the Rome Statute, negotiated within the UN – but it is a fully independent court set up to try the gravest crimes, including crimes against humanity.

    Thursday’s executive order said the U.S. government would “impose tangible and significant consequences” on ICC officials who work on investigations that threaten national security of the U.S. and allies – including Israel.

    The directive follows the decision by ICC judges to issue arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant, which accuses them of alleged war crimes in relation to the conduct of the war with Hamas on Gaza.

    The ICC also issued a warrant for a former Hamas commander, Mohammed Deif.

    Neither the U.S. nor Israel recognise the ICC’s jurisdiction; there are 125 states parties to the Rome Statute, which came into effect in 2002.

    The U.S. executive order says that the ICC actions against Israel and preliminary investigations against the U.S. “set a dangerous precedent, directly endangering current and former” personnel.

    The order details possible sanctions including the blocking of property and assets of ICC officials and barring them and their families from entering the U.S.

    Read Also: Ex-gov Okorocha dragged to International Criminal Court

    A bid to impose sanctions on the ICC by the US Congress in January prior to the change in administration, failed to garner enough support in the Senate.

    “The ICC condemns the issuance by the US of an Executive Order seeking to impose sanctions on its officials and harm its independent and impartial judicial work,” said the court in a press release.

    “The Court stands firmly by its personnel and pledges to continue providing justice and hope to millions of innocent victims of atrocities across the world, in all Situations before it.”

    The court also called on all parties to the ICC together with civil society and other nations to “stand united for justice and fundamental human rights.”

    (NAN)

  • Buhari for prosecution by ICC: Not on anybody’s life!

    Browsing through the internet shortly before the presidential election, my eyes caught a piece by one Abiodun Egunjobi writing on an online platform. It was titled: “Petition to arrest and prosecute President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria for crimes against humanity”, and addressed to the Office of the Prosecutor, Information and Evidence Unit, at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, in the Netherlands.

    “Dear Madame Prosecutor,” the piece began, “May I please seize this opportunity to present to you this very important request on behalf of the country Nigeria. It is a disheartening exposition on both Nigeria and international peace and security that we all cherish.

    ‘’Popular wisdom counsels that it takes the failure, unwillingness or inaction of good people to act for evil men and geniuses to take over and run a country. As the defender of last resort of the free world, the honorable court is called upon, in this instance, to act, not only in defense of seemingly helpless Nigerians but to mitigate the threats to humanity and international peace and security posed by the conduct of current President Buhari.”

    The piece then went on to describe what the writer felt were the shortcomings of President Buhari’s administration in Nigeria, adducing reasons why Mr President should be promptly presented before the ICC for prosecution for “crimes against humanity.” To date several instances of the crimes indicated below had been carried out and continued to be carried on unabated by the Buhari administration:

    • crimes against humanity of murder, enslavement, sexual enslavement, rape and causing serious bodily injury;
    • war crimes of murder, cruel treatment of civilians, attacking civilians, pillage, inducing rape and enlisting child soldiers, cruel treatment of civilians, attacking civilians and pillage survivors were imprisoned in a room filled with corpses, women and girls were sexually enslaved;
    • refusal to order and prosecute armed Hausa/Fulani herdsmen that continue to cause mayhem on the farms of innocent Nigerians because they are his people; and
    • encouraging the use of religion to foster terrorism and conflict, committing murder, sexual slavery and kidnapping of school children and using children under 15 years to participate actively in hostilities.”

    Upon reading the article, I was immediately reminded of two incidents-one about late American president Gerald Ford and, the other, comments and actions attributed to Mike Pompeo, the American Secretary of State on the almost two decades-old American war in Afghanistan.

    At a point in his administration, President Gerald Ford’s then 18- year-old daughter had, in answer to reporters’ question about a policy issue her father just pronounced remarked that ‘the president was stupid’ for adopting the policy in question. Reporters hounded President Ford.  He was asked for his comments on his 18 year-old daughter’s assertion. Ford explained that he saw the clip of his daughter’s comment on television. “She said the president is stupid,” he exclaimed and then proceeded to say that his daughter, as an American citizen with citizenship rights has the right to say whatever she liked or disliked about the president or any policy pronouncements. “She didn’t say my father is stupid. How many 18 year-olds in America pass worse comments about the president and presidential policies on a daily basis, he asked? Millions! It turned out to be a presidential defense of a citizen’s rights. End of story.

    The other incident is recent and it involved the attempts by several human rights activists and organisations to have ICC investigate, allegations of several human rights abuses leveled against American service and other personnel in the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan over a period of years. Secretary Pompeo promptly rejected the calls and placed visa and other travel restrictions on ICC personnel wanting to travel to the US for such investigations.

    Against these backdrops, I thought about the request by a Nigerian citizen to have a sitting Nigerian president docked by ICC. Not in your life, I concluded! Americans defend, not only their presidents to the end, they equally defend their citizenship rights absolutely. How can and why do we Nigerians do this to ourselves?

    A few weeks back, at a celebratory event marking President Buhari’s victory at the polls, the Master of Ceremonies had rhetorically asked the thousand-plus guests at event how many of them have not been beneficiaries of one government largesse or the other; such as using government vehicles to convey children to school, running errands to markets, etc. ‘Let such a person stand up,’ the MC exhorted. Buhari quietly stood up to a thunderous ovation. He was the only person who could stand up. And this is the man, Nigeria’s epitome of integrity, dedicated honest service, decency and what else have you, being requested for prosecution by ICC for the impunities of officers in his administration!

    The moral of the incidents could be summarized as follows: Nigerians have the absolute rights to say anything they wish to say about their president, especially within Nigeria, which no other nationals enjoy; because of this, they are the only ones who can try their president on any allegations. At the same time, no Nigerian has the recourse or right to invite other countries or international agency/ies to come and arrest an ordinary Nigeria not to talk of a sitting Nigerian Head of State for prosecution. It is the height of all that is unpatriotic! For that reason, Abiodun Egunjobi is best advised to try to execute his request all by himself.

    Mr. President must be accorded respect and defended by Nigerians at all times. That is what people in civilised climes do for their presidents, not throw them under the bus! It is an invitation to the security organisations to get to work.

    Long Live Nigeria!

    • Ahmed 300-Level, English Education, Lagos State University (LASU).

  • We’ll support Buhari on credible polls, says Ortom

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has given assurances of support for steps being taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure free and fair elections.

    The governor however kicked against the President’s directive to the military and police to ruthlessly deal with would-be ballot box snatchers.

    He said obeying such directive could amount to perpetrating extra-judicial killings.

    Obeying such directive, the Governor cautioned, could attract prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    He urged the military to stick to the rules of engagement during the conduct of the elections.

    Ortom, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja Tuesday, said, while he would not condone election rigging, due process must be followed in dealing with those that may be found breaking the law.

    The governor said: “It is unfortunate that Nigeria is gradually drifting to a banana republic where the rule of law is not respected and observed.

    “A government that was elected democratically is gradually turning into a dictatorship. It is unfortunate for our own President to come out and disregard the provisions of the laws of the land and give orders for extra-judicial killings in the state and torture against innocent Nigerians.

    “Let me say unequivocally that I am completely against the rigging of any form by any political party. It is wrong and we do not need that.

    “For me, I did not rig election to become governor. But the truth of the matter is that we have laws. And I expect that Mr. President who is the chief custodian of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, should protect our constitution and the laws of the land. It is unfortunate that Mr President gave that order.

    “I was just reading from the social media the reaction of the military that they are going to obey the directives of Mr President to the letter. It is unfortunate. This cannot stand, this cannot hold.”

    He added: “I want to advise those who are in the military, police and the other security agencies that they should know that they are also Nigerians.

    “Today, they are serving the public; tomorrow they will not be there. Maybe some of them will become politicians like some of us are.

    “It has happened in the past and it will happen again. And I also want to remind them that the day of reckoning will definitely come when they will be alone to give account of their stewardship.

    “So, I want to advise them to respect the rules of engagement based on the laws of the land. No matter the directives of Mr President. The police, army, DSS and all other security agencies should be professional rather than taking arbitrary directives. This is not correct. In a democratic set up, things must be done rightly”.

  • PDP planning to unleash violence in Kwara – Abdulrazaq

    All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kwara state, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has alleged attempts by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to unleash violence on the opposition.

    He, therefore, urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to focus attention on the state.

    In a statement in Ilorin, the state capital, AbdulRazaq commended the ICC for its latest message warning against violence in the coming polls.

    “We welcome the latest appeal and warnings by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the upcoming Nigerian elections,” AbdulRazaq said in a statement, adding that there is need to pay attention to
    political development in the state.

    “We believe elections should not be a do or die affair but should be about selling one’s ideas to the electorate in an atmosphere devoid of violence or threat of same or intimidation.

    Read Also; PDP not committed to peaceaccord, says BMO

    “We have reasons to call on the ICC to especially turn its radar on Kwara State where the discredited political dynasty has consistently used violence to suppress opposition. The recent rise in political
    violence, including attacks on my person and supporters and unabated destruction of our billboards, is instructive.

    “We therefore invite the ICC to monitor the processes leading to the elections in Kwara state. My supporters and I hereby formally pledge peaceful campaign and conduct before, during and after the elections.

    We urge the people of Kwara to shun violence in all forms and discourage our youths from violence or anything that could disturb public peace.”

  • Breaking: ICC releases Ivory Coast Ex-President Gbagbo

    The International Criminal Court, (ICC) has released former Ivory Coast President, Laurent Gbagbo from prison.

    The former president was released on bail to Belgium pending a possible prosecution appeal against his 15th of January acquittal.

    Details later…

  • ICC orders release of former Ivorian President, aide

    The International Criminal Court ( ICC ) on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of former Ivorian President, Laurent Gbagbo, a day after acquitting him of charges of crimes against humanity.

    Gbagbo walked free after seven years in prison. The 73-year-old former politician was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

    The court, based in The Hague, rejected a demand by the prosecution to keep Gbagbo imprisoned pending a possible appeal of the verdict.

    Calling the prosecution case “exceptionally weak”, the judges said Gbagbo had given assurances he would return to the Hague-based court if ordered to do so.

    Prosecutors said they would appeal the decision and that there could be a retrial, but the panel of judges said the defendants could no longer be held in custody following their acquittal.

    Read Also: PSC to shortlist 315,032 for 10,000 Police jobs

    Presiding Judge Cuno Tarfusser said two out of three judges believed the case against Gbagbo and his co-defendant to be so weak that it was unlikely their acquittals would be overturned on appeal.

    The two men will be released after “logistical and diplomatic arrangements” have been made, Tarfusser added. Discussions were continuing with court member states.

    Gbagbo had been charged with human rights violations committed after the West African nation’s disputed 2010 presidential election, which saw 3,000 people killed and about half a million others displaced.

    Gbagbo, who said the charges against him had been politically-motivated, has been defending himself before the ICC since 2016.

    He was the first former head of state to have been tried by the ICC.

    Gbagbo’s co-defendant, former youth minister Charles Ble Goude, 47, was also acquitted of all charges on Tuesday.

  • ICC and US as Bully-Major

    THE term, Bully-Major, is adapted for use here from Thomas Hardy’s 1880 historical novel, The Trumpet-Major. No other similarities exist between the two titles. The ICC, of course, is the International Criminal Court that sits in The Hague, Netherlands. It was founded in 2002.  Some 123 countries are signatories to its statute, and it prosecutes individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

    But the sad news is that on September 10 the United States National Security Adviser (NSA), John Bolton, threatened to arrest and prosecute ICC staff — prosecutors and judges — in US criminal courts if they attempt to investigate any American, particularly service men, for war crimes. Mr Bolton’s threats came after ICC made efforts to begin investigating some Americans accused of war crimes in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2004 during the US-led invasion of that country. The US is not a signatory to the ICC Statute.

    Under the Donald Trump presidency, the US has busied itself with demolishing many international agreements such as the Iran nuclear deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Paris Climate Agreement, and generally undermining, if not actively subverting, the post-World War II security order and even repudiating its own global leadership role. Much worse, Mr Trump is also actively undermining the Western alliance that is an important component of American power and influence.

    The threat against ICC staff nudges America from the position of a dissenter to that of an international bully. It is no longer satisfied excusing itself from alliances and treaties it takes exception to; it is also now turning itself into a powerful bully. It has threatened its allies, muscled them into execrable deals or surrender, and may be doing irreparable harm to its long-term economic and security interests. From a position of defender and promoter of the new international order, the US has in less than two years become the single biggest threat to world peace and collective security.

    Whether America can reclaim its moral high ground will depend on how soon it comes back to its senses. But with the Trump presidency still very popular with its Republican Party base, and with the economy on the upswing, it is not clear whether even a reversal of fortune for the Republicans in the mid-term elections will be sufficient to limit the damage to American influence and credibility on the international scene — except of course the Democrats can take the senate and House of Representatives and create a huge groundswell against the Trump presidency. Meanwhile, if care is not taken, for the next two years or more, the world, including America’s bewildered allies, will have to contend with its new reputation as a bully and breaker of treaties.

  • PDP faults Buhari’s position on rule of law

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s position that the rule of law could be subsumed under the “national interest.”

    In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said the President’s position was strange to the nation’s laws and completely unacceptable.

    The party described the President’s position as a direct trademark of despotic rulers and as such cannot find expression or accommodation in a democratic setting of a contemporary nation.

    It expressed readiness to rally Nigerians to reject every attempt by President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to introduce the long forgotten trappings of military dictatorship into democratic rule, which the party said, Nigerians laboured for many years to attain.

    The PDP further stated that it would not stop at anything legitimate to ensure that the International Criminal Court (ICC) holds President Buhari responsible for violations of the rule of law and criminal abuse of human rights committed under his rule in the last three years.

    Read Also: PDP challenges Buhari to debate on good governance

    The statement said, “It is instructive to note that contrary to claims by Mr. President, there is no pronouncement by the Supreme Court that subjugates constitutional rule of law and rights of citizens to the whims, caprices and dictatorial impulses of any President.

    “Our national interest is thoroughly embedded, protected, expressed and enforced only under the rule of law as provided by our constitution and there is no how Nigerians can allow an individual to superimpose or override the constitution with his personal whims and impulses; a pattern that is characteristic of known dictators all over the world, as expressed in the obnoxious Executive Order 6, designed to justify a complete clamp down of political opponents ahead of 2019 general elections.

    “President Buhari should therefore be made to answer for the litany of human rights violations in Nigeria, including documented disobedience to court orders, extra-judicial and arbitrary executions, unlawful arrests and political detentions, killing of persons in custody, torture and excessive use of force by security forces on innocent citizens, destruction of property, restriction of free speech, press, official corruption and lack of accountability as detailed in report by various international bodies, including Transparency International (TI), Amnesty International (AI) and US Department of States.

    “This is in addition to the quest to forcefully remove the leadership of the National Assembly, the blockade of the National Assembly and siege of the official residences of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President by Presidency controlled-security forces.

    “We know that President Buhari is apprehensive of the electoral defeat that awaits him in February 2019 for which he is seeking ways to subvert the system, but we caution that in this desperation to hold unto to power, he must not seek to again, subvert our constitutional order as he will be firmly resisted by Nigerians.

    “The PDP therefore calls on all Nigerians, particularly the Judiciary and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to speak out against this direct assault on our democracy as a nation before it is too late”.

  • Buhari visits The Netherlands

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on Sunday, July 15, 2018, depart for the Netherlands to participate in activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

    A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari is the only world leader invited to deliver a keynote address during the Solemn Hearing to commemorate the anniversary at Courtroom 1 of the ICC’s Headquarters at The Hague.

    In buttressing Nigeria’s commitment as a member of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, the President, as the current anti-corruption champion for the African Union, will use the global platform to reaffirm Nigeria’s support to the fundamental values of the Rome Statute and to the ideals of the ICC.

    He will also highlight his administration’s campaign against corruption in Nigeria.

    After the event at the Courtroom, the President will have a bilateral meeting with the ICC Prosecutor, Ms Fatou Bensouda.

    President Buhari will attend a dinner hosted by Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, the President of the ICC who is a Nigerian.

    The Nigerian leader, while in The Hague, will meet with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to discuss bilateral issues such as migration, peace and security, and economic cooperation.

    Read Also: ADP pulls out coalition against Buhari

    The President and his delegation will have a separate roundtable with some Dutch Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of companies based in Nigeria with a view to urging them to expand their investments, especially in agriculture, oil and gas in Nigeria.

    President Buhari will also tour the Port of Rotterdam and Shell refinery Pernis, Hoogvliet.

    On the margins of the President’s visit, Nigeria and the Netherlands will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultations.

    President Buhari’s delegation to the Netherlands will include Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

    Others are the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar; the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru; and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman.