A legal practitioner, Gideon Christian has filed a petition
at the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Bayo Onanuga, the Director of
Media, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, over alleged
incitement of violence during the 2023 elections.
ICC acknowledged the receipt of the petition dated March 27,
2023, and signed by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit,
Office of The Prosecutor.
Onanuga, after the reelection of Babjide Sanwo-Olu as the
Lagos State Governor, posted an anti-Igbo statement on Twitter, which was
greeted with backlash.
Christian, however, formally informed the world court of the
matter asking the ICC to probe the ethnic violence that erupted during the just
concluded election.
The letter read, “The Office of the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.
“This communication has been duly entered in the
Communications Register of the Office. We will give consideration to this
communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome
Statute of the International Criminal Court.
“Please note this acknowledgement letter does not mean an
investigation has been opened, or that an investigation will be opened by the
Office of the Prosecutor. As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you,
in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
The lawyer precisely accused Onanuga of threatening voters
on Twitter to stay away from Lagos politics in the aftermath of the exercise.
Christian argued that such action was an uncivilised breach
of international laws and should be investigated.
It further read, “Pursuant to art.15 of the Rome Statute,
please accept this communication to the International Criminal Court (the
Court) requesting the Office of the Prosecutor to conduct an investigation into
series of ethnically motivated violence resulting in injuries and death during
the just concluded Presidential and Governorship elections in Nigeria.
“The European Union Election Observer Mission in Nigeria
which observed both elections, in their interim report on 20th March 2023 noted
multiple incidents of ‘organised violent attacks’ which resulted in ‘many
casualties and fatalities.
“These incidents where the results of incitement to ethnic
hatred by Nigerian politicians and their agents, who actively (directly and
indirectly) incited groups of individuals to inflict harm on other individuals
from a targeted ethnic group (the Igbo) as well as individuals who ‘look like’
people from that ethnic group.
“It is on record that prior to the elections, very
influential individuals and politicians especially in Lagos, had publicly
warned members of the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria not to show up to exercise
their constitutional rights to vote.
“While this complaint is not strictly about the deprivation
of that right (which admittedly this Court has no jurisdiction), it is evident
that in an effort to deprive members of this ethnic group of their right to
vote, these politicians and influential individuals incited ethnic hate that
resulted in ‘many casualties and fatalities’ to individual from the Igbo ethnic
group including those who ‘looked like them. Mr Bayo Onanuga was clearly one of
such persons.
“Following the completion of the governorship election
Nigeria in which individuals from the Igbo ethnic group and others who ‘looked
like them’ suffered ‘many casualties and fatalities’ especially in Lagos, Mr.
Bayo Onanuga, a very influential journalist turned politician and now Director
of Media and Publicity in ruling political party’s presidential campaign
organisation issued a threat on Twitter warning individuals from the Igbo
ethnic group that 2023 should be the last time they will be interfering in
Lagos politics.
“Mr. Onanuga’s concept of interference arose from the
legitimate act by individuals from the Igbo ethnic group in Lagos in exercising
their constitutional right to vote anywhere in Nigeria. This statement was
issued after individuals from this ethnic group have been attacked and killed
in Lagos during the governorship election. The attacks continued after Mr.
Onanuga’s tweet.
“What is more disturbing about Mr. Onanuga’s tweet is the
threat of future harm to individuals from the Igbo ethnic group in future
elections in 2027.”
“I, therefore, request this Court to investigate the conduct of Mr. Onanuga and other individuals in Nigeria, who directly and indirectly organised, incited, aided and abated the ethnically motivated election and post-election violence in Nigeria and take appropriate action to hold them responsible for their actions. This will prevent future conducts that will breach rules of international law.”
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