The
International Criminal Court, ICC, has been asked to investigate the Taraba
State Governor, Darius Ishaku, over the incessant killing in the state.
International Criminal Court, ICC, has been asked to investigate the Taraba
State Governor, Darius Ishaku, over the incessant killing in the state.
According
to a criminal complaint petition written against the governor to the Office
of Madame Fatou Bensouda, the ICC Prosecutor,
the governor and some other top government officials in the state were accused
of not doing enough to halt the killings.
to a criminal complaint petition written against the governor to the Office
of Madame Fatou Bensouda, the ICC Prosecutor,
the governor and some other top government officials in the state were accused
of not doing enough to halt the killings.
The
petition written by a civil society organization, Save
Humanity Advocacy Centre, through its attorney, Alexandra Thome, also
joined the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Abel Diah, and the
Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Area, John Yep, as co-accused persons.
petition written by a civil society organization, Save
Humanity Advocacy Centre, through its attorney, Alexandra Thome, also
joined the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Abel Diah, and the
Chairman of Sardauna Local Government Area, John Yep, as co-accused persons.
In
the petition, the ICC prosecutor was asked to obtain International Arrest
Warrants for the accused persons from the ICC in accordance with Articles 58
(1) (a), 58 (1) (b) (i), 58 (1) (b) (ii) and 58 (1) (b) (iii) and proceed to
arrest the Accused Persons so they can face their trial and also
compels them upon conviction to pay compensation to the victims of genocide at
Mambilla Plateau in the sum of $1,000,000,000 as punitive damages.
the petition, the ICC prosecutor was asked to obtain International Arrest
Warrants for the accused persons from the ICC in accordance with Articles 58
(1) (a), 58 (1) (b) (i), 58 (1) (b) (ii) and 58 (1) (b) (iii) and proceed to
arrest the Accused Persons so they can face their trial and also
compels them upon conviction to pay compensation to the victims of genocide at
Mambilla Plateau in the sum of $1,000,000,000 as punitive damages.
The
petition followed a bloody clash which started on June 17, 2017 between the
Nguroje community and herdsmen at the Mambilla Plateau neighbourhood in
Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.
petition followed a bloody clash which started on June 17, 2017 between the
Nguroje community and herdsmen at the Mambilla Plateau neighbourhood in
Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State.
SHAC
said in the petition: “Also, a total of about 17,000 cattle were killed while
several houses and villages were burnt around the area. Indeed, what became
most worrisome to our client in recent time is the scale, extent and manner of
the carnage, as people and animals are being killed in the most barbaric nature
by irate mobs claiming to be the indigenes of Mambilla Plateau.
said in the petition: “Also, a total of about 17,000 cattle were killed while
several houses and villages were burnt around the area. Indeed, what became
most worrisome to our client in recent time is the scale, extent and manner of
the carnage, as people and animals are being killed in the most barbaric nature
by irate mobs claiming to be the indigenes of Mambilla Plateau.
“Available
records show that the mobs were protesting the arrest of a suspected criminal
by the police and decided to launch co-ordinated attacks on Fulani cattle
breeders.
records show that the mobs were protesting the arrest of a suspected criminal
by the police and decided to launch co-ordinated attacks on Fulani cattle
breeders.
“Notwithstanding
the foregoing, it is obvious that crimes against humanity have been committed
on the territory of Nigeria, thereby clothing the ICC with unfettered
jurisdiction to investigate, arrest and try the persons involved in the attacks
alongside Taraba State Government in accordance with Section 12 and 13 of the
Rome Statute.
the foregoing, it is obvious that crimes against humanity have been committed
on the territory of Nigeria, thereby clothing the ICC with unfettered
jurisdiction to investigate, arrest and try the persons involved in the attacks
alongside Taraba State Government in accordance with Section 12 and 13 of the
Rome Statute.
“It
is rather disheartening to note that Nigeria is still battling with corruption
in the judiciary after over 56 years of independence, thereby giving
opportunity to certain powerful but unscrupulous elements to keep getting away
with evil machinations against humanity. There is no gainsaying the fact that
Nigerian judiciary is incapable of providing the needed solution to the raging
crisis at Mambilla Plateau at the moment.
is rather disheartening to note that Nigeria is still battling with corruption
in the judiciary after over 56 years of independence, thereby giving
opportunity to certain powerful but unscrupulous elements to keep getting away
with evil machinations against humanity. There is no gainsaying the fact that
Nigerian judiciary is incapable of providing the needed solution to the raging
crisis at Mambilla Plateau at the moment.
“To
that extent, the solution lies with the ICC being the last hope of the common
man to swiftly swing into action by offering an arena for investigation and
hearing for the sake of justice, equity and fair play. We take solace in
Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute which qualifies this Criminal Complaint by
itself as constituting ‘a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation’
and mete out appropriate sanctions based on the prima facie cases of genocide,
aiding and abetting illicit killings at Mambilla Plateau already established
herein.”
that extent, the solution lies with the ICC being the last hope of the common
man to swiftly swing into action by offering an arena for investigation and
hearing for the sake of justice, equity and fair play. We take solace in
Article 15 (3) of the Rome Statute which qualifies this Criminal Complaint by
itself as constituting ‘a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation’
and mete out appropriate sanctions based on the prima facie cases of genocide,
aiding and abetting illicit killings at Mambilla Plateau already established
herein.”
