Hague Court to consider petition on Jos violence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) will consider the petition filed before it by a Nigerian group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), requesting an investigation into the deaths of at least 326 people during the last violence in Jos, Plateau State, an official of the court has said.

The Head of Information and Evidence Unit, Office of The Prosecutor at the ICC, M.P. Dillon, said the Court will get back to the group on the next line of action on the petition filed before it by the petitioners’ lawyer, Femi Falana.

“We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision,” Mr Dillion wrote

Mr Falana said the decision is an important one.

“We look forward to the ICC getting fully involved and addressing the subject matter of the petition,” he said. “Given the persistent lack of political will by the Nigerian government to address the problem, we believe the intervention by the ICC in this case is especially important.

“Ending impunity for the cycle of violence in many parts of Nigeria are absolutely important for sustainable peace, stability and security, and for the country’s social, economic and political development.”

The petition

In a petition dated January 29, 2010 and addressed to Luis Moreno Ocampo, Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, the group asked that the court to investigate and bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for crimes against humanity in Jos.

The petitions requests the ICC to: “Urgently commence an investigation proprio motu on the allegations of the unlawful killing of at least 326 people and other crimes committed during the violence in Jos this month, with a view to determining whether these amount to crimes against humanity within the Court’s jurisdiction.”

The petitioners also asked the court to invite representatives of the Nigerian government to provide written or oral testimony so that the Prosecutor is able to conclude whether there is a reasonable basis for an investigation.