Nigeria not planning to withdraw from ICC - Jonathan

Nigeria is not planning to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC, President Goodluck Jonathan has said.


Jonathan gave the assurance on Tuesday at an audience with the President of the ICC, Mr Sang-Hyun Song at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.


He said that Nigeria still maintained its endorsement and commitment to the guiding principles and objectives of the ICC.


Jonathan, however, reiterated the position of the country that the ICC should urgently address the current concerns of African leaders over the operations of the court.


He told the ICC President that Nigeria and the African Union would work with the United Nations and the Assembly of ICC State Parties to achieve a review of sections of the ICC’s Rome Statutes.


The Statutes, according to Jonathan, include those that deny the deferment of cases against sitting heads of state and government with definite tenures.


``Nigeria freely signed up for the ICC because we believe in its objectives and the reduction of crimes of impunity.


``We believe in doing what is right, but we also think that the ICC and other stakeholders need to take greater cognizance of the challenges African leaders are facing.


``We are not thinking of pulling out, but we will work with others to strengthen and reform the ICC.


``Leaders with definite tenures should not be distracted from doing the work their people freely elected them to do.


``Courts should solve problems, not compound them. Let us look at the ICC’s legal instruments and modify them to address the concerns of Nigeria and the African Union,” he said.


Earlier, Sang-Hyun had congratulated Jonathan on Nigeria’s recent election to the United Nations Security Council.


He also commended Jonathan’s statement to the UN General Assembly in September.


Sang-Hyun said Jonathan’s stance on human rights, the rule of law, peace, security, democracy and political stability were very much in line with the ideals the ICC was established to promote.


``We are not far from each other. We are trying to achieve the same goals,” he said.


He assured Jonathan that the AU's current concerns over the court’s operations could be resolved with further dialogue and consultations.

- (NAN)

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