Northern Group Wants Buhari Arraigned

Barely 10 days before Nigerians go to the polls to elect those that would rule the country for the next four years, a group of Northern Pro-democracy activists, Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice, NCDJ, has petitioned the International Criminal Court, ICC, to prosecute General Muhammadu Buhari for 2011 Post Election Violence in Nigeria.

According to has called on government of the United States of America to facilitate the trial of Buhari, who is the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Candidate, for his role in the post-election violence of 2011.

In a letter to United States Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry, which was copied to the US Ambassador to Nigeria, the activists said US assistance is necessary to help Nigeria ensure violence-free elections next month.

Signed by Dr. Ibrahim Baba (Secretary Research and Documentation), Mr. Yunana Shubkau (Publicity Secretary) and Umar Farouk (Secretary General) and dated January 25, the activists said they had dragged Buhari to the International Criminal Court (ICC) but needed U.S support to get Buhari appear before the court.

Entitled: “The role of General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 post election violence in Nigeria,” the letter read in part: “Conducts of political actors particularly statements credited to General Buhari and others in the year 2012, 2013 and 2014 during the build up to the 2015 elections is in the context of politically motivated sectarian violence. And a threat to the conduct of peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria.”

According to the group, now might just be a good time to reflect on the agonizing incidents of the 2011 post election violence that claimed about 800 innocent lives including NYSC members, to avoid a repeat election violence.

It would be recalled that ICC in a statement issued on Monday by its Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said it would prosecute any politician linked to violence before, during and after the country’s general elections, ThisDay reports.

Bensouda, urged political parties to abide by their commitment to maintain peace following the peace pact that was recently signed by aspirants in Abuja.

It would be recalled that Buhari has been embroiled in a certificate saga and recently Lai Mohammed, national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), pleaded with Nigerians to forgive the party’s presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari, if he does not know where his certificates are.