Nigeria commits no error over Al-Bashir arrest –ICC
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has cleared Nigeria of any charge on its failure to arrest President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan in July when he attended the African Union (AU) summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Nigeria.
A statement from the foreign affairs ministry, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC), presided over by Justice (Judge) Ekaterina Trendafilova has ruled that Nigeria has justifiable reasons for its failure to arrest President Al-Bashir of Sudan in Nigeria during the visit.
The judgment of the ICC entitled “Decision on the Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Regarding Omar Al-Bashir’s Arrest and Surrender to the Court” was delivered on September 5 and forwarded to the next day.
In her defence of the court order Nigeria made a submission to the Court reaffirming her firm commitment to the Rome Statute and her readiness for continued cooperation with ICC towards attainment of the latter’s objectives.
Nigeria further submitted that she did not invite President Al-Bashir to undertake a visit to Nigeria.
Nigeria argued that the Sudanese President appeared in Nigeria ostensibly to attend the special Summit of the African Union (AU) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which took place in Abuja from 15 to 16 the July 2013.
Nigeria further argued that being an AU Summit; member States do not require the invitation of the host government to attend such Summit in line with the decision and tradition of AU Assembly which member States have an obligation to comply with.
