The
AU is considering a mass withdrawal of its member states from the ICC further
to its complaints that the court seems to be bent on persecuting leaders of
African states.
The Extra ordinary summit is a fallout of the insistence of
the International Criminal Court to prosecute both President Uhuru Kenyatta of
Kenya and his Deputy William Ruto in spite of the implications it may have on
the leadership of the country.
It was a subject of
lively debate during President Jonathan's 3- day state visit to KENYA last
month especially as the Kenyan National Assembly was called back from recess to
vote on the withdrawal of the country's membership from the ICC and the
Nigerian leader could not resist wading into the discourse.
Clearly from
President Jonathan's posture he is ready to vote in favour of Africa's mass
withdrawal from the ICC.
It is the first
time Nigeria has been embroiled in controversy over the International
Criminal court as charges were filed against it earlier this year for allowing
Sudanese President Omar al Bashir to attend the Abuja plus 12 summit and return
to his country without being arrested despite a bench warrant out against him
for war crimes.
Kenya's shuttle
democracy across the African continent has been aimed at getting more African
countries to support its cause.
The East African
country has already taken the first step by withdrawing its membership of the
ICC.
Nevertheless,
the ICC is insisting that the trials of President Kenyatta and Deputy President
Ruto will go ahead.
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