The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) criticized a recent petition by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate and prosecute a former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, for alleged genocide against the Shi’ite Muslim sect in the state in 2015.
HURIWA, the national coordinator for the Buratai and El-Rufai faction of the Nigerian National Democratic Coalition (NNDC), says a judicial panel of inquiry charged seven years ago, but didn’t indict Buratai and El-Rufai.
The group further revealed that the commission indicted some soldiers and the IMN leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky for the December 12-14, 2015 clash between the officers of the Nigerian Army and Shiites.
HURIWA said that dragging the names of Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai is a waste of time if the ICC is being asked to reopen a matter that a domestic judicial process was activated and a determination was reached. If dissatisfied, the group can file a suit within the Nigerian jurisdiction.
He said, “Without sounding immodest or trying to demean or dishonour the memory of the citizens who were unfortunately killed by gunfire, we feel it is just a dramatic show of ignorance to drag these two persons particularly as it is clear that local judicial processes had taken place and a determination one way or the other reached on that incident that led to avoidable fatalities. But the truth is that ICC’s jurisdiction can only be invoked if Nigeria at any level had failed to activate judicial inquisition on that unfortunate incident. Even the National Human Rights Commission did not indict the former Army chief after it carried out extensive investigation.
“El-Zakzaky and his members have for seven years staged demonstrations in protest of what has been concluded by the judicial commission. HURIWA doesn’t have issues with public peaceful protests since protest is one essential ingredient that nurtures constitutional democracy. So those who feel aggrieved can ventilate their angst lawfully. But we think making any demands of accountability should be focused on the individuals so indicted. But Buratai and El-Rufai were not indicted according to public records available for all to apprehend.
“The Islamic Movement of Nigeria it would be recalled recently petitioned the ICC but their petition is of no moment since a judicial commission had already determined the matter and indicted those responsibly. The judicial investigative commission did not in any way indict General Buratai and Kaduna’s governor. A resort to ICC after a domestic judicial body has handled the matter is an abuse of the court process and the petition would be dismissed. It is also double jeopardy to subject people to multiple judicial inquisitions over the same matter.
“Both the Kaduna state governor and Buratai were not found culpable of the killings and indeed the commission had already identified the persons responsible and recommended action to remedy the damage. So, the petition of IMN to ICC is of no effect.”