The coalition of civil societies of Nigeria has petitioned at least 31 embassies to disqualify Nigeria’s ex-service chiefs should they be presented as ambassadors to their countries.
The ex-service chiefs include:
- Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Buratai (rtd)
- Former Chief of Naval Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd)
- Former Chief of Air Staff, Admiral Ibok Ese-Ibas (td)
- Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin.
The coalition also asked that the embassies declare the nominated ambassadors as persona non grata in their respective countries.
The petition was sent to the foreign missions through the ambassadors. Copies were also sent the Head of European Union in Nigeria as well as the United Nations.
The petition stated that its position is due to alleged war crimes, massacres and gross human rights violations perpetrated by the former service chiefs.
Of particular mention is Buratai who was in charge during the Obigbo, Lekki and Zaria massacres among others.
Some of the signatories to the petition include:
- Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair, International Civil Liberties and Rule of Law;
- Professor Anthony Ejiofor, Chairman, World Igbo Congress (USA);
- Prof Uzodimma Nwala, President, Ala-Igbo Development Foundation
- Prof Justice Chidi, President, Concerned Elites for Better Society Initiative
The 7-page document is titled, ‘Time for Buratai and Over 20 Others to Face International Justice and Diplomatic Sanctions for Crimes of Genocide, War Crimes Perpetrated Against Defenceless Civilians in Nigeria’
The coalition confirmed that by Wednesday, “the letters have been successfully delivered and received by 25 of the 31 foreign missions, remaining France, Greece, Denmark, Portugal, Hungary and Australia.”
Excerpts of the Petition:
“We brought the attention of the respected Ambassadors and High Commissioners to previous rights abuses and violations perpetrated under the seal of, or by the immediate past Nigerian Chief of Army Staff, Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai and over 20 others.
“The respected envoys were also informed that the named perpetrators have been gravely and factually accused by respected local and international rights groups and other activists of being directly or variously involved in the referenced heinous crimes while in office between August 2015 and January 26, 2021.
“The envoys were also notified about attempts by the Nigerian government to ‘shield and protect’ some of the perpetrators from criminal prosecution or being locally and internationally held to account. This, the Nigerian government has done by nominating them as non-career ambassadors.
“The coalition also catalogued and highlighted 19 massacres perpetrated under Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, between 30th August 2015 and 26th Jan 2021 and enclosed the names of the key perpetrators as well as electronic links to some of the reports on the perpetrated crimes.
“The coalition respectfully prayed and demanded from the respected envoys that: the named perpetrators must face prosecution and life jail at the International Criminal Court; that also, the international governments including the petitioned and intergovernmental agencies should ensure that the perpetrators are declared and treated as persona non grata and slammed with appropriate international or diplomatic sanctions, including being made ineligible and pariahs in all regional and international military, policing and other security or diplomatic engagements.”
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