By Emma Amaize
WARRI—FOUR human rights groups in Nigeria have written President Umaru Yar’Adua, urging him to use his position and leadership to order the arrest and extradition of his Sudanese counterpart, President Omar al Bashir, should he step his foot in Nigeria to attend the forthcoming African Union Peace and Security Council meeting in Abuja, October 29.
President al Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The groups include the Economic Rights & Accountability Project (SERAP), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) and Partnership for Justice (PFJ), whose managing partner is Itoro Eze-Anaba.
In the letter entitled, “Request for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al Bashir during his planned visit to Nigeria”, addressed to President Umaru Yar’Adua, dated October 25, the rights groups said they concerned that Nigeria invited President Bashir for the meeting, despite its obligations to the ICC.
“We are very concerned that despite Nigeria’s international legal obligations, including under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Nigeria has ratified, your government has invited President al Bashir who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“It should be pointed out that the ICC on March 4, 2009 issued an arrest warrant for President al Bashir.
We, therefore, call on your government to act swiftly to arrest the Sudanese President once he enters Nigerian territory and surrender him to the ICC to avoid complicity in the crimes against humanity and war crimes he is alleged to have committed in Darfur.
“We hope that your government would provide the required leadership in this matter in the overall interest of the victims of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur; some of these victims may be Nigerians.
“In case your government does not act as requested, we will be compelled to file necessary applications before the UN Security Council for appropriate measures and sanctions in the circumstances.
“We contend that under the principle aut dedere aut judicare, (extradite or prosecute), Nigeria has a legal obligation to extradite a suspect of crimes against humanity and war crimes and surrender to the ICC for prosecution or to submit the case to its competent authorities for the same purpose.
“Nigeria has ratified the 1984 Convention against torture, which requires it to extradite or submit cases of persons found in territory subject to their jurisdiction suspected of torture.
“Furthermore, just recently, on October 14, 2009, the African Union, in a statement at the end of the 13th Africa-EU Ministerial Troika Meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, underlined its commitment to fighting impunity at the national, regional and international level in conformity with the principles of international law.
Given its important leadership role of the African Union, its recent election to the UN Security Council, and its leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the current Chairman of that sub-regional institution, Nigeria has a legal responsibility to deny a safe haven to the Sudanese president.”
Are African countries that are state parties to the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court playing a shell game with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir? Since the issuance of his arrest warrant by the ICC in March 2009, Bashir has repeatedly received invitations from African leaders to attend summits and conferences that eventually result in the dispatching of non-fugitives of international justice to serve in Bashir’s stead. Were these recent invitations from countries like Uganda and Nigeria in good faith? Or have there been pre-arranged deals cut that a public invitation would be extended with the understanding that Bashir would not accept them?
I have written more about this at: http://www.seanbrooks.net/2009/10/a-shell-game-with-bashir/
Assemblyman Louis Manzo, Hudson, said any environmental legislation required sacrifice on the part of those affected. Black Economic Empowerment
Fellow Nigerians ,Bakwomi every thing is fine,but dont forget the story pls,
i can`t offend anybody Allahu alkabar ,president Omar AL Bashir,,,
President Umaru Yara´adua ,decied on what to do ,nagode ,,,,
I am not too sure Mr. President believes in the UN or international treaties except the regional ones (ECOWAS) and may be AU and we all can speak of the components of AU.
If he decided not attend very important meeting at UN but goes somewhere to commission a University and we expect him to arrest someone who is said to be wanted by the international court of justice, we must be joking.
Let us forget about it and plan to cope with the hardship coming the way of Nigerians when the pump price goes up in view of the fact that some people feel Nigeria is more important than the Nigerians who own Nigeria.
God bless Nigeria
Though the crimes against humanity perpetrated by omar el bashir is unprecedented in the history of African crises.it is also important that we should not glorify a supporter of rapists and plunderers.the simple fact remains that arresting him on Nigerian soil will jeopadised the entire peace process and the lives of the Nigerian peacekeepers presently there.we should be patient as no evil committed will go unpunished either by God or by man.I believe his time will soon be up.lets be patient.
Nigeria should do the right thing, arrest, detain and extradite the Sudanese president to the international court in hague. Nigeria must be a law abiding country and mr. president must stick to his 7 point agenda and the rule of law.
The arrest and extradiction of mr. al bashir will usher in a new and fresh direction for the sudanese people without the cloud and shadow of this despot. The arrest will also lead to a final and progressive solution to the Dafur problema and AU and international community would no longer need to continue to have the poor dafur situation stain their minds. Further, the arrest will resolve some of the conflicts in the central north west african states of chad and sudan. The arrest will offer the sudanese a life time opportunity to unify their country and chart a new direction for themselves without the clout of the cabal head by mr. al bashir.
Mr. president, the soveriegnity of nigeria must be respected and upheld. the constitution of federal republic of nigeria must be upheld and your oath office must be adhered to. You swore to to uphold all these in the discharge of your duties in office of the president of nigeria. you have a date to keep to the allegiance. Nigeria is a signatory to the UN and haque charters and must live to the international expectation.
Arrest Bashir once his place enters the nigerian air space. We are watching the actions of FGN. The whole world is watching. Will nigeria demonstrate its soveriegnity or be cowed by the sudanese to look the other way?
Omar al Bashir has perpetrated genocide against non-Arabs (blacks) in Dafur and Southern Sudan and no legitimate leader of black African descent should allow him to step in-and-out of a black African country freely without arresting him and handing him over for trial. Unless of course such leader has a fear of similar indictment emanating from his activities against his own people. President Umar Musa Yar’Ardua, history beckons on you. Grab it if the opportunity ever presents itself. Nigeria should regard herself as entrusted by God with the moral obligation to champion the course of, and protect the black race around the globe. Omar al Bashir stepping into Nigeria should be seen as an opportunity to show what type of champions we are.
Mr president sir,fellow Nigerians,
We have come of age.Lets flex some muscles interntionally AND POSITIVELY.I plead with you Mr president to do what is right to man and God and arrest omar Al Bashir once he steps foot on our soil.let it be known to the world that in as much as we are not perfect,we are not friends,brothers and patronisers of manslayers and merchant of evil and death.
I pray whoever reads this piece nd numerous ones like this and close to our president umaru yar’ adua to tell him he stands on the threshold of history and time and if he grasps the moments he will never die for he will livein history books and in our hearts and that of million generations unborn forever! as one president from africa that has the oral fibre to look eveil in the eye and put it in its place.
Sure I know international dipomacy and politics is involved,omar nd yar’adua been mulis and arab friendly,but the good book(koran) abhors evil and sponsors of it.We also know that no mater the dust raised,it will settle,time is the second best healer after the creator.
I know what I would do if am Yar’adua(no disrespect your excellency),same thing I woud have done with Bakassi pennisula(would still do one day,when am there in the villa,if another eader has not addressed it then).
May God bless and keep our president Umaru and give him the wisdm to lead us right and do right before men and the creator.I pray also for our 36 state governors,especially my own Adams Oshiomole,ay God put his detractors t shame.Also I can not forget his worshipful majesty,the one and only OBA of Benin,Oba Erediuwa.may God help him to do what is right or his people and Nigeria.