Nigeria Won’t Exit ICC – FG

BEVERLY HILLS, November 3, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has declared that it had no intention of pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC), insisting that the court represented the hope and aspirations of millions of people around the world.

This was made known in a statement on Thursday, in Abuja, by Jane Adams, acting Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stating that Nigeria, as a party to the Rome Statute, believed that the court also represented an international mechanism for ensuring justice for all.

Adams said the plan by some African countries to exit the ICC was their national decisions but stressed that Nigeria remained a signatory to the Rome Statute adopted on July 17, 1998 which entered into force on July 1, 2002.

Adams also noted that non-membership of the court did not preclude anyone from prosecution, adding that the UN Security Council could refer cases to the court for prosecution and called on all member-states, who have yet to sign the Rome Statute to consider becoming signatories.

THEWILL recalls that South Africa, had last week announced its intention to leave the ICC, following the planned withdrawal of Burundi and The Gambia from the court. 

Story by Oputah David