The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to begin its own investigations into the killing of civilians in the northern region of Baga, Borno state.
The Executive Director, SERAP, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni who made this known in a press statement released to Channels Television disclosed that the organisation had “sent an urgent request to the Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, urging her to facilitate the visit of the court to the troubled region.
Many conflicting reports have emerged concerning the actual events of the face-off between members of the Joint Task Force and the Boko Haram insurgency which led to the loss of lives and properties.
SERAP has now called for a “visit of the court to Baga in Borno State of Nigeria and other parts of the country in order for the court to assess the situation, interview important witnesses and collect vital evidence that can be used to bring suspected perpetrators to justice for international crimes.”
In the statement disclosed that a request dated 3 May 2013 and signed by Solicitor to SERAP Femi Falana, SAN, the organisation expressed concerns over the matter and warned that suspected perpetrators may escape justice if action isn’t taken immediately. “Unless the ICC urgently visit Baga and other parts of the country to assess the situation, interview witnesses and obtain vital evidence suspected perpetrators may escape justice.” SERAP stated.
The organisation further described the criminal justice system in Nigeria as ‘weak’ and added that conflicting reports submitted by Government instituted panels will lead nowhere except the court intervenes.
“Further, while the National Human Rights Commission is currently probing the alleged violations of international law in Baga, we remain concerned that given the antecedents of successive governments to ignore reports and recommendations of national agencies and institutions in situations like this, we are convinced that intervention by the ICC will significantly complement the probe by the commission, as it will bring international pressure to bear on the government to honour any recommendations that might come out of the commission’s findings.” The statement read.
