The Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Epiphany Azinge, has disagreed with the view that African leaders were being witch hunted by the International Criminal Courts over cases of human rights abuses.
Professor Azinge, who spoke at a lecture organised by the institute in Abuja, advised African leaders to strengthen their judicial system and ensure the protection of human rights .
He criticised the African justice system saying it required urgent attention.
It was the fifth in the series of lectures organised by the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies with the theme ‘The International Criminal Law’.
Legal experts at the lecture, including the Chairman, Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Osarheimen Osunbor, examined the role of the International Criminal Court in conflict resolution, and they all agreed that the African region had experienced weak protection of human rights.
While it is said that the attitude of African leaders in entrenching the principles of human rights had been characterised by lack of political will, the guest lecturer, Prof Ngozichukwuka Ugo, appealed for a total change of attitude by leaders in addressing issues of genocide, rape and corruption.
