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Human rights activists in Nigeria demand for arrest of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir
Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir. PHOTO/Gregorio Borgia/AP
(AP) – Civil rights activists and human rights lawyers Monday demanded that Nigeria arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and deliver him to the International Criminal Court to stand trial for crimes in Darfur.
Nigeria’s president Goodluck Jonathan was urged “to support the demand by the international community for justice for the victims of genocide and war crimes,” by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
Human rights lawyers are going to court to argue for an order to force the arrest, said Chino Obiagwu of Nigeria’s Legal Defense and Assistance Project.
Human Rights Watch is urging Nigeria’s authorities “to signal that Nigeria should show leadership and not host ICC fugitive Bashir”.
Nigeria is a member of the International Criminal Court and “has international legal obligations to ensure that this country does not become a safe haven for alleged perpetrators of crimes under international law like al-Bashir,” said Adetokunbo Mumuni, executive director of the rights and accountability project.
A failure to arrest al-Bashir could have “huge legal ramifications” and lead to sanctions by the U.N. Security Council, he warned, though Chad and Djibouti have welcomed al-Bashir in the past year without suffering any consequences.
Human Rights Watch said Nigeria’s stand is “a stark contrast” to that taken by most African countries.
