International court explains failure to try Obasanjo over Odi killings
From Lemmy Ughegbe, Abuja

SEVERAL years after the mass killing in Odi, Bayelsa State was allegedly ordered by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo, the International Criminal Court (ICC) yesterday offered an explanation for not investigating the former President's role in the dastardly act which has left a scar on the people.



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ICC's Deputy Prosecutor, Mrs. Fatou Bensouda, who was in Nigeria to attend a judicial colloquium marking the 10th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the Court in Abuja, spoke with reporters before her departure to The Hague, Netherlands, noting that the Odi killings happened before the Court was established.

Bensouda explained: "The ICC does not have a retroactive jurisdiction to prosecute offences committed before it was created.

ICC is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. But such crimes can only be looked into if they were committed when the court came into force."

The court was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which was adopted in Rome, Italy on July 17, 1998 by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court but it was officially established on July 1, 2002 after 60 states had become parties, whereas the Odi killings took place in 1999.

The prosecutor also described as a lesson for African leaders the application, which the prosecutors filed for a warrant of arrest of the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Ahmad Al-Bashir.

According to her, the era of impunity for African leaders is gradually coming to an end.

She explained that in all the cases in which the court had intervened in Africa, it was at the instance of African leaders.

"The only exception is Sudan which was at the instance of the United Nations Security Council," she added.

The court had in the past issued warrants of arrest against some nationals of Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and the Central African Republic.

ICC is an independent, permanent court that investigates and prosecutes persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had on July 14 presented evidence showing that Sudanese President, Al Bashir committed the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Three years after the Security Council requested him to investigate in Darfur and based on the evidence collected, the prosecutor has concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Al-Bashir is criminally responsible in relations to 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The prosecution evidence shows that Al-Bashir masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups.

For over five years, Al-Bashir has denied the crimes. He says rape does not exist in Sudan.

Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo and leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo have filed an application before the Chief Magistrate's Court in Abuja asking the court to compel the Inspector-General of Police, to produce the report of his investigations into the killings in Odi and Tiv.

The motion on notice is asking for the court's order compelling the Inspector-General of Police to appear before the court for the purpose of submitting his report in respect of the investigation ordered by the court earlier this year into the alleged mass killings in Odi and Tiv "by the Obasanjo's government."

The motion dated July 21, 2008, according to Keyamo, is to ensure full compliance with the order of the court. Chief Magistrate Uche Ezinne had on May 19, 2008 ordered the inspector general of police to investigate the killings based on the application filed by the duo.

http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jul/28/13.html

Hmmmmmmm . . . . . .what of this Serbian guy? - Karidic or whatever. . . . he committed his crimes before 1999. . . . . so whichever court they are using to try him would suffice for Obasanjo.

Ibime:

Hmmmmmmm . . . . . .what of this Serbian guy? - Karidic or whatever. . . . he committed his crimes before 1999. . . . . so whichever court they are using to try him would suffice for Obasanjo.

Good Observation. even Charles Taylor was early 90s.

OBJ is a friend of the WEST.

He paid them cash $18BIL; thats west good boy. They dont want to loose their good boy.

Until we take our future in our hands. We are doomed. They will continue to use divide-n-rule against us.

Nigeria court should detain OBJ and bring him to justice on wipe-out of ODI-VILLAGE.

Nurnberg trial was like 60 years ago. that is okay.

That excuse does not hold water at all.

He should be tried for the Odi carnage

In the poll above, what is the difference between Yes and "He must pay for those crimes" cos I chose the latter

He should be but he won't be, this is Nigeria after all.

One thing I know is that welther today or tomorrow, what ever each of us are doing or have done, we will one day pay for them all. It could be next year or years to come or even when we die. Or our children could even pay for our wrong doings or sins because they enjoy from it too. Obasanjo, IBB, Abacha children, Bohari, and all those past leaders that think they have done their best and Even this Yaradua that is on now. All of them will not go free forever! They will one day pay for all their wrong doings.

He is temporary free for these reason The court was established by the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which was adopted in Rome, Italy on July 17, 1998 by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court but it was officially established on July 1, 2002 after 60 states had become parties, whereas the Odi killings took place in 1999. The same people that create this court will also amend the law and then there will be no loop hole for him and the rest to escape. Or some how, they are going to pay for all their deeds including our money that they stole from us and took to oversea for their children and live us here to surfer to death. God is not sleeping man, they must pay for it all one day.

But at least he should be tried for stealing Nigeria's money, plunging us into further darkness and commiting abominable sins!

Nurnberg trial was like 60 years ago. that is okay.

That excuse does not hold water at all.

He should be tried for the Odi carnage

I don't think it's possible because he acted under diplomatic immunity. He may not have the immunity now but for the fact he did it as a democratic president will be a big plus for him. I heard he threatened Biafrans with the same immidiately after the civil war. Obasanjo is a cannibal.