ICC asks Nigeria to arrest Bashir

By Standard Digital Reporter

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has requested Nigeria to arrest and surrender Sudan President Omar Al Bashir on his visit to Abuja over crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Darfur.

The Pre-Trial Chamber II stated that Nigeria is party to the Rome Statute and has the obligations to execute ICC orders.

The Chamber also instructed the ICC Registrar to immediately transmit the decision to the Nigerian authorities and to prepare a report Bashir's visit to Nigeria.

Bashir is wanted by ICC over alleged five counts of crimes against humanity namely murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape,

Bashir is also accused of two counts of war crimes namely intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and three counts of genocide committed against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups.

Two warrants of arrest have been issued against him.

Appeals to several African countries to arrest his while on visits have failed.

The ICC has informed the United Nations Security Council and the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of Bashir’s visits to Djibouti, Chad and Kenya, as well as of the non-cooperation of Malawi and Chad in arresting Mr Al Bashir.