The International Criminal
Court, ICC, has warned that it
would not take lightly the
outbreak of violence during the
forthcoming general elections in
Nigeria, and has vowed to
prosecute persons or groups
caught inciting or perpetrating
act of violence in the run-up
and after the election.
The prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou
Bensouda, in a statement,
expressed concern over the
escalating violence and threat of
violence in the run-up to
election. He warned that by the
Rome Statute, of which Nigeria
is a signatory, it has jurisdiction
over crimes committed in
Nigeria or Nigerians from July
1, 2002 onwards.
“Any person who incites or
engages in acts of violence
including by ordering,
requesting, encouraging or
contributing in any other
manner to the commission of
crimes within ICC’s jurisdiction
is liable to prosecution either by
Nigerian Courts or by ICC. No
one should doubt my resolve,
whenever necessary, to
prosecute individuals
responsible for the commission
of ICC crimes,” said Mr
Bensouda.
Several observers have
suggested that the February
elections would be marred by
violence. Already there have
been reported cases of violent
acts.
The convoy of President
Goodluck Jonathan was stoned
by some irate youth in some
northern states last week. Some
supporters of the opposition All
Progressive Congress, APC, were
shot in Port Harcourt and cases
of bombing targeted at the APC
in the state are increasing.
Some Niger Delta militants, who
are close allies of Mr. Jonathan,
have also threatened to wage a
war upon the rest of the
country if the he’s not re-elected.
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