ICC plays down talk of witch-hunting African leaders

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands
on Thursday said that there was no truth in allegation that it is
witch-hunting African leaders.

The President of the Court, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, a Nigerian,
made the remark in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen
after a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof
Geoffrey Onyeama

The ICC was perceived as witch-hunting African leaders, a
situation leading to withdrawal of membership by some African
countries.

The African Union had in 2017 backed a strategy for collective
withdrawal from the Court over this allegation, but the decision
suffered a setback after Nigeria joined others in support of the
Court.

Three African countries; Burundi, South Africa and The Gambia
had announced withdrawal of membership of the Court

Eboe-Osuji however said:”There is no witch-hunting of African
countries by the court.

“Actually, some of the complaints being made have not taken into
account the fact that the court was set up for the protection of
people who are suffering from some kinds of violations.

“And those Africans, who have been suffering from such
violations, are not complaining that the court is biased. They are
not complaining that there is witch-hunting going on,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has been very supportive in saying
that there is a need for the ICC to stand and to be supported.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the
Court, noting that Nigeria had stood to lay a good legacy for other
countries to follow that the court needs to stand.

“And we are here to express gratitude to Nigeria for doing that.
The Court appreciated Nigeria’s support.

“We are very much encouraged that it took no lesser authority
than the President himself signaled that to happen for the Nigerian
leader to stand behind the court and robustly stand by the court,”
he said

Onyeama, while also fielding questions from newsmen said that it
would be wrong to see the court as witch-hunting.

“I think it is wrong to look at it this way. I think the
question we should be asking is has any right been violated?

“Should people have the right to have the people who violated
their rights made to face some kind of tribunal. That is the
question we should ask.

“Another way to look at it is, those African leaders that are
being tried, is the trial justifiable?

“That is all that should concern us and whether 10 African
leaders are arrested, the question is , is the process fair, were
rights violated,” he said

The minister told the visiting jurist that Nigeria was solidly
behind him and in support of the court.

“President Mohammadu Buhari is a firm believer in the rule of
law and he has directed that when the matter came up in the AU when
a number of countries wanted a collectective withdrawal from the
ICC.

“President Buhari has firm believe that Nigeria should speak out
in support of the Court because the objective of the court is
something that Mr President and his government believed firmly
in.

“Which is the rule of law and accountability by the political
leaders of the continent and firm believe that ordinary Africans
should have the possibility of having rights defended and upheld in
the court of law.

“And that the African leaders should also be held accountable in
court of law. So, we do believe that the ICC is an institution for
good and the benefit of the global community,” he said.

He expressed hope that other countries around the world yet to
join would also walk the talk and also join the ICC.

“We know that there are a numbers of big countries, democratic
countries that are still not acceded, so we are delighted that the
court is now being led by a Nigerian.

“We will certainly do whatever we need to do to support the work
and to promote global justice,” he said

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands
on Thursday said that there was no truth in allegation that it is
witch-hunting African leaders.

The President of the Court, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, a Nigerian,
made the remark in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen
after a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof
Geoffrey Onyeama

The ICC was perceived as witch-hunting African leaders, a
situation leading to withdrawal of membership by some African
countries.

The African Union had in 2017 backed a strategy for collective
withdrawal from the Court over this allegation, but the decision
suffered a setback after Nigeria joined others in support of the
Court.

Three African countries; Burundi, South Africa and The Gambia
had announced withdrawal of membership of the Court

Eboe-Osuji however said:”There is no witch-hunting of African
countries by the court.

“Actually, some of the complaints being made have not taken into
account the fact that the court was set up for the protection of
people who are suffering from some kinds of violations.

“And those Africans, who have been suffering from such
violations, are not complaining that the court is biased. They are
not complaining that there is witch-hunting going on,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria has been very supportive in saying
that there is a need for the ICC to stand and to be supported.

He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his support to the
Court, noting that Nigeria had stood to lay a good legacy for other
countries to follow that the court needs to stand.

“And we are here to express gratitude to Nigeria for doing that.
The Court appreciated Nigeria’s support.

“We are very much encouraged that it took no lesser authority
than the President himself signaled that to happen for the Nigerian
leader to stand behind the court and robustly stand by the court,”
he said

Onyeama, while also fielding questions from newsmen said that it
would be wrong to see the court as witch-hunting.

“I think it is wrong to look at it this way. I think the
question we should be asking is has any right been violated?

“Should people have the right to have the people who violated
their rights made to face some kind of tribunal. That is the
question we should ask.

“Another way to look at it is, those African leaders that are
being tried, is the trial justifiable?

“That is all that should concern us and whether 10 African
leaders are arrested, the question is , is the process fair, were
rights violated,” he said

The minister told the visiting jurist that Nigeria was solidly
behind him and in support of the court.

“President Mohammadu Buhari is a firm believer in the rule of
law and he has directed that when the matter came up in the AU when
a number of countries wanted a collectective withdrawal from the
ICC.

“President Buhari has firm believe that Nigeria should speak out
in support of the Court because the objective of the court is
something that Mr President and his government believed firmly
in.

“Which is the rule of law and accountability by the political
leaders of the continent and firm believe that ordinary Africans
should have the possibility of having rights defended and upheld in
the court of law.

“And that the African leaders should also be held accountable in
court of law. So, we do believe that the ICC is an institution for
good and the benefit of the global community,” he said.

He expressed hope that other countries around the world yet to
join would also walk the talk and also join the ICC.

“We know that there are a numbers of big countries, democratic
countries that are still not acceded, so we are delighted that the
court is now being led by a Nigerian.

“We will certainly do whatever we need to do to support the work
and to promote global justice,” he said