eritvnews: ICC’s Rule against Impunity Has Been There since 1919

The president of the International Criminal Court, ICC clarified the immunity clause was not targeted at African leaders.

Addressing the Nigerian government who hide under the immunity clause to commit crimes against humanity, the judge noted that the rule against impunity started in 1919, when many African countries had not even gained independence.

It is clear that the tyrannous Nigerian government wants the immunity clause in ICC changed to hide them from answering from the crimes they committed against humanity when the massacred innocent members of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

One of the complaints that has been made against the ICC is a complaint rooted in Article 27 of the Rome Statute. It is the provision that says that nobody, no head of state or senior state official, shall enjoy immunity.

This provision has caused some confusion, some debate and some misinterpretation as to how it came about and what it is about,” he explained
Pointing out to the Nigerian government of what they have been reciting in their National anthem, the ICC president maintained that the court was set up to ensure a world where peace and justice reigned as contained in part of the second stanza of the Nigerian anthem.
He expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s support to the court, particularly the role it played in ensuring that he emerged as president of the court.

He, however, appealed for more support and cooperation from Nigeria, noting that the challenges the court was facing were not yet over.

The Nigerian Minister for Justice, in his response, expressed concerns over the ICC’s recent escalation of eight cases against Nigeria from preliminary examinations to preliminary investigations, describing it as uncalled for.

He, however, stated that the development would not deter the country from supporting the ICC in its efforts to check crimes against humanity and ensure justice for victims.