The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, has warned Nigerian politicians against engaging in election-related crimes as the country prepares for the general and state elections to be held on February 28, 2015.
In a statement, Ms Bensouda urged the politicians to live to their commitment to refrain from violence before and after the elections.
“Nigerian presidential candidates and political leaders recently signed a pact committing themselves, their parties and their followers to refrain from violence before, during and after these elections. I urge them to consolidate this commitment,” the ICC prosecutor said.
She said that the ICC had jurisdiction over crimes committed in Nigeria under the Rome Statute.
CRIMES ALREADY COMMITTED
Already, crimes falling under ICC’s jurisdiction had already been committed in Nigeria, she noted, adding that abhorrent levels of violence had already been witnessed in Nigeria.
She said her office was analysing a report published in November 2014 regarding the said crimes in order to determine the next steps to be taken by her office.
Ms Bensouda noted that if electoral competition went astray it could give rise to violence and even trigger mass crimes that could shake “the conscience of humanity.”
She warned that any Nigerian politicians who incites people to commit crimes within the ICC jurisdiction was liable for prosecution by Nigerian courts or the ICC.
“No one should doubt my resolve, whenever necessary, to prosecute individuals responsible for the commission of ICC crimes,” she warned.
She said her office would send a team to Nigeria ahead of the elections “to further engage with the authorities and encourage the prevention of crimes.”
- Nation.co.ke
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