The presence of President Al-Bashir of Sudan in
Nigeria is generating a lot of controversiesamongst rights groups, including Coalition on the
International Criminal Court, NCICC and Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project, SERAP, have insisted on his being arrested and handed
over to International Criminal Court, ICC in The Hague, over his indictment for
alleged crimes in Darfur.
Al-Bashir is accused of masterminding
genocide and other atrocities during the Darfur conflict, a charge he had
repeatedly denied.
Similarly, United Kingdom’s Minister
for Africa, Mr. Mark Simmonds, expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s decision
“to host the Sudanese President, despite ICC arrest warrant on him,” noting
that Nigeria’s action undermined the work of ICC.
However, Foreign Affairs Minister,
Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, said Monday that Nigeria shunned ICC’s arrest warrant on
Al-Bashir because of its commitment to AU’s position on the issue.
Meanwhile, NCICC has dragged the
Nigerian government before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, praying the
court to compel Federal Government to hand over Al-Bashir to ICC.
Speaking on the development, Sagay
lampooned Federal Government for allowing Al-Bashir to visit the country.
Sagay, in a telephone interview with
Vanguard, said: “I am very disappointed to hear that he (Al-Bashir) was invited
to this country because he has a record of being brutal, despotic and very
murderous.
“He has committed a lot of crimes
against humanity. I don’t see why such a person should be our guest when we do
not belong to his group of people. Obviously this will rob off on our image,
which will be soiled in the world and we will make enemies of civilised
nations.”
Agbakoba
However, former President of Nigerian
Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Agbakoba, disagreed, saying “ICC has no jurisdiction
over Nigeria.
“While I may not like the man
Al-Bashir, I don’t believe or agree that Nigeria has any obligation to any body
to hand him over to ICC over an outstanding warrant for his arrest. I don’t
support that.
“The United States which seems to be
in the forefront for the enforcement of rights refused to sign the ICC Rome
Statute, which we all know is deliberate because if it does, its activities in
Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas will be more scrutinised and jeopardise its
foreign policy.
“Even though Nigeria is a signatory
to the ICC Statutes, I believe this is the time to repudiate and follow the
Chinese example.
“This is the right time for Nigeria
to pursue a foreign policy that meets its need and not merely enforcing
policies that promote Western and American interests. My position is purely as
an African.”
SERAP, on its part, said it had sent
urgent request to the Prosecutor of ICC, Ms Fatou Bensouda, requesting her to
use her good offices and position to urgently refer the Nigerian government to
the UN Security Council for failing to arrest Al-Bashir and surrender him to
the ICC to face fair trial on the charges against him.
UK reacts
UK Minister for Africa, Mr. Mark
Simmonds, expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s decision “to host” President
Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, in spite of ICC’s arrest warrant on him.
A statement by the Foreign Office
Minister for Africa, yesterday, said Nigeria’s action undermined the work of
the Court.
Simmonds said: “The UK has a strong
and abiding bilateral relationship with Nigeria. I am, therefore, disappointed
that Nigeria has chosen to host President Al-Bashir of Sudan at an African
Union event, despite ICC’s arrest warrants against him for alleged war crimes,
crimes against humanity and genocide.”
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Politics