Abuja — A Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Justice Mrs. Akua Kuenyehia yesterday disclosed that the ICC has the jurisdiction to prosecute the masterminds of crimes against humanity taking place in the Niger Delta if Nigeria sends a petition to it for intervention.
Kueyehia is in Abuja for a two -day judicial colloquium on Reproductive Rights and the Statute of the ICC organized by the Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC), Open Society Justice Initiative and Macarthur Foundation.
She specifically said yesterday that the Court would not ordinarily intervene in the crisis in the Niger Delta except a petition was sent to the Prosecutor of the Court.
She, however, pointed out that Nigeria was a state party to the Rome Statute which established the ICC and therefore had unfettered access to the court.
Few days ago, the Federal Government disclosed that it had got the names of those sponsoring the violence in the Niger Delta region.
Although President Yar'Adua promised to release the names but up till now, the list is yet to be made public.
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Please remember to charge also the political criminals who had and are still stealing the oil wealth of this Nation for their own good e.g past Governors and present ones.More importantly the Northern parasites who have done more damages on this Nation Economically than one can imagine.One would also suggest that International Criminal Court investigate all past and present Governments, they all in one's judgement have contributed immensely to this crimes Against Humanity in the Niger Delta.Note, Politicians in Nigeria will have no moral Authority to Initiate a petition to it ICC for Intervention because they know they will be quilty as charged. ICC ought to do the right thing although Nigerian politicians may oppose this move, mainly those politicians from the Northern region of the Country who can not exsist without the oil wealth of this Nation and thats what drives them to grab power by any means.Assuming the oil wealth is located in the Northern Region of the Country, the North would have carved out of Nigeria long time ago.
Prosecute the Generals who have made the Niger Delta their gold mine in collaboration with the militants, prosecute the militants for kidnappings and finally the government of Nigeria for criminal neglect of the oil-bearing region for over 50 years