The Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court, (NCICC) has filed a suit at the federal High Court Abuja to compel President Goodluck Jonathan to arrest the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, who is attending a conference in Abuja.
NCICC demands that the indicted Sudanese leader must be delivered to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to stand trial for genocide and war crimes in Darfur.
The group in the suit urged the federal government to support the demand by international community for justice for victims of genocide and war crimes by ensuring the arrest of Mr Al-Bashir.
Chairman of the coalition’s steering committee, Chino Obiagwu, told a news conference in Abuja that Nigeria’s diplomatic reputation will further deteriorate if the Jonathan administration fails to arrest the indicted Sudanese leader.
“It will amount to grave diplomatic blunder for the Jonathan administration to invite and give full ceremonial reception to war crime indictee in disregard of millions of victims and family of Darfur atrocities: stated Mr Obiagwu, adding that some of the Darfur victims are “Nigerian citizens who are still crying for justice.”
The ICC indicted the Sudanese leader in 2009 and 2010 for crimes including extermination, forceful transfer of population, torture and rape.
He was the first sitting African Head of State to be indicted by the court.
Mr Al-Bashir arrived in Nigeria on Sunday to a red carpet welcome with full military honours.
He is attending a health summit of the African Union.
