Nigeria has called for cooperation of member states and respect for the country’s sovereignty and constitutional framework at the 24th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to holding accountable those responsible for war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity. “The Federal Government of Nigeria reaffirms its readiness to continue working with the ICC in the fulfilment of its mandate. Our cooperation is firmly rooted in the principles of international law and the sovereign equality of States, and we remain committed to ensuring that such cooperation always reflects respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty and constitutional framework,” he said.
Fagbemi highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its commitment to international humanitarian and criminal justice norms, including the domestication of the Rome Statute and Additional Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions.
The AGF also expressed concern over the alarming increase in armed conflicts worldwide and the dehumanization of wars, emphasizing the need for global accountability efforts. “Nigeria particularly finds concerning, the dehumanization of wars and armed conflicts against even persons not directly involved in these conflicts,” he said.
Fagbemi reiterated Nigeria’s support for the ICC’s mandate and called for increased cooperation, including victim support, timely sharing of information, and technical assistance. He also condemned the recent cyberattacks on the ICC’s digital infrastructure, describing them as attempts to undermine the court’s independence and mandate.