By Innocent Anaba

NIGERIAN Coalition for the International Criminal Court, NCICC, has joined the rest of the world in the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (Rome Statute), warning of continued violations of human rights and crimes violating international law in Nigeria.

Judicial symbol for justice

Chairman of NCISS, Mr Chinonye Obiagwu and Vice Chairman, Dr Abiola Akiode-Afolabi in a statement, said: “The Rome Statute which is the founding treaty of the International Criminal Court vested the court with power to exercise jurisdiction over international crimes, to wit: genocides, crimes against humanity, war crime and crime of aggression. The ICC has so far recorded 26 cases, issued 32 arrest warrants and made verdict in six cases with eight convictions and two acquittals, the most recent being that of Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo.

“The NCICC emphasises that in the rise of global violations of humanitarian laws and human rights, there is no better time to support the ICC than now. To ensure a more just world, it is important for states to foster cooperation with the ICC by domesticating and implementing the Rome Statute’s provision of complementarity in their national legislation and prosecute international crimes committed within their territories.”