Human Rights Conference: Participants Seek Nigeria’s Exit From ICC

Participants at the second International Human Rights Conference on local armed conflicts in Nigeria, on Monday called on the Federal Government to exit Nigeria from the ‎Rome Statute and its creation, the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The conference was organised by Global Amnesty Watch in partnership with the Institute for African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

A communique issued at the end of the conference, accused Amnesty International of hindering the fight against Boko Haram by blackmailing the military with the ICC.

‎‎The communique was signed by Dr. Mutiullah Olasupo  and Barrister Maxwell Gowon, chairman and secretary, respectively of the Communique Drafting Committee.

Participants in the communique demanded, “The Federal Government immediately activate the necessary steps for Nigeria to exit the Rome Statute and its creation, the International Criminal Court, to ensure that the military can fight terrorism without the cloak of blackmail constantly hanging over them.

“The Government must in the interim assure the military that it is insulated from the International Criminal Court in view of its operations meeting international standard of rules of engagement.

Accordingly to the communique, “The International Criminal Court is constantly used to harass and intimidate military commanders and troops to discourage them from being committed to defeating Boko Haram.

“The myriads of false reports from Amnesty International and other groups usually have built in texts that threaten military personnel with arraignment for war crimes and crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court.

“It was noted that South Africa, Burundi, Kenya and the Gambia are countries that have taken different steps towards exiting the court created by the Rome Statute because of its confirmed selective justice and usage as a tool for modern day colonialism,” the communique stated.

‎During the conference, participants and resource persons evaluated Nigeria’s war on terrorism since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office.

During the period under review, participants said progress was made as senior commanders of the Boko Haram group have been killed arrested or surrendered; remnants of the group have resorted to sporadic cross border raids – they launch attacks from neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon as well as retreat back to these places once the Nigerian military is in pursuit.

“It is regrettable that there has been a stall in the efforts to totally eradicate Boko Haram insurgents owing to several external interferences.

These interferences include strategic support for the terrorists by international NGOs like Amnesty International and other groups representing its interests in Nigeria and the failure of Nigeria’s neighbors to honor international and regional commitments.

“The support from these NGOs has ensured that Boko Haram continues to get sympathy to use as propaganda for recruiting and radicalising new members and continue to attempt occasional attacks on soft targets.

It has in this regard moved from using hardened fighters to deploying underage girls that are able to evade security scrutiny to carry out attacks”, the communique noted.

More so, the conference agreed that‎ a special task team should be set up to review and respond to any report emanating from Amnesty International, UNICEF and or their associates.

“The task team is to help citizens understand when they are being willfully misled by these entities. The task team is made up of representatives from the CSOs that attended the conference,” the communique stated.

Local and international speakers at the conference include David Falt, Global President, Global Amnesty Watch, Geneva, Professor Pita Ogaba Agbese, University of Northern IOWA, [USA]; Mary Johnson, Human Rights Lawyer, (USA); Dr Malfouz A Adedimeji former Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ilorin Kwara State and Mr. Stuart McGhie, Senior, Expert/Practitioner in Humanitarian Law, London.

Others are Professor Emmanuel  Ezeani of the Conflict Resolution and Peace Building Unit, Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Dr. Udenta O. Udenta as Conference Moderator.