The International Criminal Court on Monday said wife of the Nigerian president, Dame Patience Jonathan, is liable to prosecution.
The ICC added that it had begun conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Nigeria ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The Office of the prosecutor in an email in response to an enquiry by The PUNCH, stated that it received the petition written by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, asking the ICC to prosecute Nigeria’s first lady for making inciting comments that might lead to violence.
The email read, “Under Article 15 of the Rome Statue, the Prosecutor of the ICC may receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction on the Court (also called ‘Communication’).
“With regards to your enquiry, the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court can confirm receipt of the communication referred to since the sender (APC) has made this fact public in the media”.
It added that the court would take all the necessary steps, which will likely include interrogating the president’s wife and others mentioned in the petition of the APC.
“The office will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court, as it does with all such communications”, the email concluded.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, on Monday issued a press statement reiterating the stance of the ICC to prosecute anyone who promotes or instigates violence before, during or after the general elections.
The ICC prosecutor noted that it had already started to conduct independent and impartial investigations and prosecution of the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Darfur, Sudan, Libya, Ivory Coast and Mali.
“The Office is also conducting preliminary examinations relating to the situations in Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, Guinea, Honduras, Iraq, Nigeria, Ukraine and Palestine”, the ICC said.
Idle ICC,Mr.President has deprived me of free air,free food,free private jet and space shuttle.Come for comprehensive investigation,for this inhuman acts.Also,investigate Russia and western powers roles in Ukraine,and the associated humanitarian crises.Further, investigate ISIS and Boko haram for their killings in cold blood,destruction etc.Inaddition.investigate President Assad of Syria for humanitarian crises.