EXCLUSIVE: ICC to ‘consider’ APC’s petition against Jonathan’s wife over call for stoning
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday confirmed receiving correspondence from the All Progressives Congress (APC), against Patience Jonathan, the Nigerian first lady.
TheCable had written to the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) seeking clarification on reports that the court had formally received a petition against the first lady from APC.
The response was that communication was received from APC and the petition would be given the necessary considerations within the ambits of the the law.
“Under Article 15 of the Rome Statute, the Prosecutor of the ICC may receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction on the Court (also called ‘communications’),” OTP said.
“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 of the communication has made this fact public in the media.”
Earlier on Monday, the United Kingdom arm of the APC claimed that the criminal court said it would begin investigating the wife of the president.
“The ICC based in the Hague has sent confirmation to APC UK, that an investigation will begin against Mrs Jonathan who repeatedly called for the stoning of opposition APC members as captured in the videos released earlier this month,” it said.
“The criminal case investigation ICC reference number is: OTP-CR-83/15.”
The OTP also told TheCable that it would consider the stance of the APC and treat the allegations as appropriate.
“The Office will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, as it does with all such communications.”
In order to ensure a violence-free election, political parties signed a peace accord in January, promising to desist from all acts of violence, hate and inciting speeches.
The APC however filed a complaint before the ICC against Mrs. Jonathan for her inciting speeches, having told Nigerians at a campaign in Cross River to stone anyone who comes to the state to preach “change” – the mantra of the APC.
Fatou Bensouda, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, released a statement on Monday threatening anyone fuelling violence ahead of the election would be prosecuted.
“Any person who incites or engages in acts of violence in the context of the upcoming elections or otherwise – including by ordering, inciting, encouraging or contributing to the commission of crimes that fall within ICC’s jurisdiction – is liable to prosecution; either by Nigerian Courts or by the ICC,” the statement read.
“No one should doubt my office’s resolve to prosecute individuals responsible for the commission of ICC crimes, whenever necessary.”
Your comment..patiane if u hav nigeria u don hav d world.jstic is what we want
good news i hate this woman
What a shame! ICC doing the Job of SSS! Where is the Director of SSS?
Benson, Do you know what ICC is? I hope you’re not mistaking it for Nigeria’s ICPC
Where is the Director of SSS? Either on AWOL or Dead on arrival! Next Question, Please!
Truely a big shame.DSS should cover their faces for allowing ICC teach them their constitutional duty.Thank you Mr.Benson.
Director of SSS is in Abuja winning and dinning with Oga Jona. Would you not ask DSS to investigate and arrest the perpetrators of violent protest in lagos on Jega removal. They protested with arms as could be seen in the dailes and our security agencies kept mute. Oh!, the Nigerian police also gave them protection
Mrs jntn you will rgrt your actiin
ICC, don’t mind them ooh, I was just joking ooh. Haba APC, na only una waka come. Chaiii Chaiii.
There’s God ooh, all this report you people are reporting.
Mama peace,this can be accepted from Ali Baba not you.Abi u wan join Ali Baba husle for Lagos?
I believe what he meant is that the SSS is sleeping to their duty and that it is a shame that ICC has to carry out prosecution for us which means our system has failed in carrying out its duty
After this election in nigeria who ever is coming out for any office next time is going to be very articulate with words and actions lets have some decency in our politics
So, what happens to Buhari who incited the post-election violence of 2011? Or the one he said about “baboons and dogs soaking in blood”? He should be made to face ICC too!
I expect PDP to report him to ICC too. if they have evidence against him Buhari, they should report him. Most of all these allegations against Buhari are baseless and libel
Meaning Buhari should in actual fact, be in the ICC jail by now.
Your comment..Well it is obvious that BIAFRA is by the corner.
Why APC dey provoke? How many times dem don call Patience husband clueless, shoeless, imbecile? Insult na insult o. Anyway d poor woman has many lessons too learn in decorum & perhaps ds is one of dem but we still care mama peace. Na God put u dr biko….regardless of your flaws! I salute d way u stand solidly with ur man come rain or shine.
Some people has the brain that is as little as that of a cockroach. So you are one of those who knew nothing? It’s a pity that you dont know the difference between an abuse and an order to do something. Anybody can abuse anybody. Jonathan can be abused, and he too can abuse. But for that illiterate that calls herself Patience to utter that so so and so people should be stoned for saying ‘change’ demands that she rots in prison. Oh yes. Her own case will be worst than that of Gbagbo’s wife. If the Nigerian SSS and ICPC are being pocketed by the Jonathan led administration, I know it would be difficult for them to pocket the ICC. Patience’ actions these days are becoming too unbearable to human beings. I know Jonathan himself would be troubled by her utterances. Whenever I see her, I see in her the action of a tout. As for you, don’t worry. PDP days are numbered in Nigeria. Agbero people!!!
ICC has no business in Nigeria & should please save us the trouble. Buhari’s comment after the 2011 presidential election result was announced claimed many lives & property,ICC did not see anything there to investigate. Amechi & other APC members made a lot of inciting statements in their meetings and campaign,nothing happened.why do Nigerians hate GEJ so much? Is it because he is from the South-South? what is his office? Can anyone tell me which of the past president has perform as much as GEJ? Is this how we want to manage the freedom of speech? Is there no more respect for the office of the President? May God have mercy on us.
Favour I don’t think u know d implication of what patience did to this nation by d time d ICC finished with her u will both cry together. If she is truly a mother she will not tell people to stone one another because of ur tomorrow dat u are eating u will say rubbish like her.
What does Monkey and Baboon soaked in blood mean?
Buhari should also be investigated by ICC on the comments he made during and after the last presidential elections whose remarks resulted in loss of life and is still the root cause of several attacks on president Jonathan campaign convey in various northern states. He should be the one to face ICC and not the president’s wife.knowing well that the people from the Northern region have good track record of killing people from other parts of the country.
good??? i’d rather use the word ”notorious” track record!!!
I wonder why a woman given birth to a child after 9 months pregnancy will have the courage to order the stoning of another woman’s child. Is this what power is all about?
Please don’t lay any charges against her,she was only practicing the advance English she learned in the evening school. Anyone who’s watched Ini Edo in “World’s Apart” will understand what’s playing out! Power drunks talk that way!
AM ASHAMED ALWAYS WHEN I WATCH MADAM AND I CONSIDERED THE KIND OF BRAINS IN OUR HIGH PLACES. HOPE SHE IS NOT BRINGING OR RIDICULING NIGERIA IN THE EYE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN THIS AGE OF GLOBALIZATION. GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
God dey…..its obvious the woman is really “passionate” about are husband from the very start of their “love story”….and that’s what gave birth to “these”…her illiteracy being “constant”
…..wouldn’t blame her much. Probing her is just but another political tactic (an opportuned “loophole) for the APC.
…No one is righteous here…. Buhari also said after loosing the last election that MONKEY AND BABOON WOULD BATH IN BLOOD….the PDP were just slow in capitalizing on that
I just hope the “best man” wins…. and the looser goes home peacefully. A PITY….this all just a facade of a growing DEMOCRACY
God BLESS Nigeria…
..Nigeria is never goodluck property and his wife should stop all rubbish she saying
Nigeria leaders should stop embarrasing us
Oh Yes! If ICC could wade in, it will bring glorious sanity to our governance. God bless Nigeria.
Why has icc not investigated the death of innocent Corps members dat lost deir lives from buharis disciples and agents of death.
it is good that apc is reporting her to ICC but in her case nobody has been killed but in Buhari’s case hundreds died including youth corpers therefore ICC should start with that.again in a run-up to the Ekiti election Tinubu asked that people be roasted,therefore APC should not cry blue murder when they are reported to ICC
This is very surprising. Hate campaign started with the opposition party. l think APC is not fully ready & mature to take over power. They are reaping what they sow. The media is not sincere in helping the APC to be accepted my majority of Nigerian. Propagada is not a good tool needed by the opposition. Though what she say is 100% right since Buhari has not been prosecuted for his utterances that led to the death of many in the 2011 general election. She is not calling people to violence, but passing a message.
Everybody will someday give account of his/her contribution to the world’s whatever when we die.let these people be.we have read about pharaohs,the likes of Idi Amin,Saddam Husain etc. Where are they now?it’s their time and it will come to pass.prayers is what we need right now for peace to reign