Highlights from President Buhari's speech at the 20th anniversary of the International Court of Justice

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the International Court of Justice, ICC, is needed more than ever, citing the alarming proliferation of the most serious crimes around the world.

The Nigerian leader said this in a keynote address delivered on the occasion of the 20th anniversary celebration of the Rome Statute of International Court of Justice, The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

He also congratulated the Nigerian Judge, Chile Eboe-Osuji, who was recently appointed as the President of the International Criminal Court.

Here are highlights from his speech:

1. The court needs to take on board all constructive criticism and allay lingering fears and concern through targeted messaging, awareness raising and possible modification of some legal provisions. If properly articulated, communication and awareness raising would surely engender trust and encourage greater cooperation of Member States with the court and even encourage non-Member States to decide to become members. It must avoid even a hint of bias or political motivations.

2. President Buhari urged all states not to politicize the decisions of the court but to always bear in mind the rationale for the establishment of the court in the first place.

ALSO READ: Meet Chile Eboe-Osuji, a Nigerian who is new President of International Criminal Court

3. Nigeria has cooperated with and supported the court at all times. This, we have demonstrated by our full and transparent cooperation on matters on which we are being investigated and also in our several country statements at the sessions of the court.

“The country's cooperation with the Court is borne out of our strong belief in the respect for the rule of law and human rights, and in our firm commitment to the sanctity of fundamental freedoms at international and domestic levels, as ingrained in the objectives for establishing the Court,” Buhari said.

4. With the alarming proliferation of the most serious crimes around the world, the ICC, and all that it stands for is now needed more than ever, in ways that were unforeseeable to its founders.

5. Buhari said as an African Union Champion on Anti-corruption, the ICC needs to act as a catalyst for other justice efforts by expanding the reach of accountability.

6. He assured the International Court that his government will do everything possible to ensure that Nigeria witnesses the conduct of free, fair and peaceful elections in 2019.

Also from Business Insider Sub-Sahara Africa:

Highlights from President Buhari's speech at the 20th anniversary of the International Court of Justice

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the International Court of Justice, ICC, is needed more than ever, citing the alarming proliferation of the most serious crimes around the world.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!