PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC), JUDGE CHILE EBOE-OSUJI (CENTRE), FLANKED BY NIGERIA’S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UN, AMB. SAMSON ITEGBOJE (R) AND SPOKESPERSON OF THE NIGERIA’S MISSION, AKINREMI BOLAJI, MINISTER, WHEN EBOE-OSUJI ADDRESSED AFRICAN AMBASSADORS ON THE STRAINED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ICC AND AFRICAN LEADERS, AT NIGERIA HOUSE IN NEW YORK

The President of the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, has assured African leaders that the continent would be treated fairly by the Court under his leadership.

Eboe-Osuji, who gave the assurance while addressing African ambassadors at the Nigeria House in New York, blamed the strained relationship between ICC and African leaders on “communication gap”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigerian-born judge from Imo was elected at a time when ICC was facing unprecedented challenges and threats, as well as accusations of an unfair bias towards the African continent.

The ICC President explained that his priority in office would be effective communication with all States Parties so as to avoid misinformation and misunderstanding.

“Part of what I’m hoping to do with the position is that of communication. It isn’t only with the African Group; we also have that issue with other State Parties.

“As I’m talking to you, I’m following discussions with the States who contribute the most to the budget of the Court have their own anxieties too.”

He said States that contributed the most to the ICC budget were concerned about how to make effective use of funds.

“So all around it’s all about communication. If you don’t communicate well, you create opportunity for misunderstanding, for misinformation; people will start assuming things…

“I attach great emphasis on communication. I present myself and give you people the opportunity to ask your questions about areas where there could be possible misunderstanding…

“In all of that, I think that we cannot over emphasise the importance of the ICC to the world at large and to us Africans in particular as well. I’ve always stressed that.”

He also said that the Court had to listen to and address the concerns of States Parties in accordance with the international law.

“It is often possible that people are saying the same thing but from different perspectives and they think they are saying different things.”

Earlier, Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Samson Itegboje, said the meeting was to interface with Eboe-Osuji over the strained relationship, noting for the first time, both ICC President and Prosecutor are from Africa.

“So we are hoping that the new scenario will engender a situation where some understanding will be created between the ICC itself and the African Union,” Itegboje said.

NAN reports that some of the African Ambassadors expressed concerns at the focus of ICC on the African continent and expressed the hope that with an African at the helm of affairs at the Court, the concerns would be addressed.

ICC investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charged with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community, as the court of last resort for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of aggression.

However, the Court had been criticised, particularly by the AU, for its focus on Africa and some African countries had been debating about leaving the Court .

The AU proposed a mass withdrawal from ICC in January 2017 and Burundi had withdrawn its membership, Kenya threatened to withdraw while South Africa revoked its withdrawal after its High Court voided it.