Nigeria committed to end impunity- Attorney-General

The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the battle with impunity, provide recourse to justice for victims and punishment for perpetrators of the crimes.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami,  in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr. Umar Jibrila Gwandu, was reported to have disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting Nigeria’s statement at the five-day 18th session of the assembly of state parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Hague, the Netherlands.

Malami said Nigeria is also committed to criminalization of starvation as a weapon of war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

While recalling that the idea of criminalization of starvation as a weapon of war crime was mooted by Switzerland, Malami emphasized the Nigeria’s calls on all State Parties to jointly support the initiative.

The Attorney General also decried the numerous challenges the International Criminal Court has been facing including increasing attacks against the ICC and its officials, possibilities of further withdrawals from the Rome Statute, weakening of the Rome Statute system and its support across the globe, retreat in multilateral engagement and rising tides of hostility, discrimination, and repression around the world.

“It is the desire of Nigeria to see ICC overcome all its present challenges and become a global, independent and impartial Court with capability to rid the world of impunity the type that characterized World War one and two,” the Minister has said.

The Minister said Nigeria is also determined to work together with States Parties to oppose efforts to undermine the works of the Court.