Bilie Human Rights Dismisses Threat To Drag Ihejirike To ICC

A United Kingdom-based human rights organisation, Bilie Human Rights Initiative (BHRI), has described as most ridiculous, threat by the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) to drag former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, to the International Court of Justice (ICC).

The group expressed dismay that the NEF, as represented by Professor Ango Abdullahi, could embark on such fruitless venture, adding that rather than being perturbed by the mischievous proposal, it was happy with the development because such move would only quicken its pending case in the Owerri Federal High Court, in Imo State.

It alleged that Boko Haram is tactically and politically backed by the Northern military and political establishments, adding that they would have to face the ICC first, for crimes against humanity, before Ihejirika, who carried out his constitutional responsibility, as a commissioned military leader.

In a press statement signed by its Director, Dr. Chukwuma Egemba, the group pointed out that in the pending suit in Owerri, the indigenous people of Biafra, represented by BHRI, are praying the court, among other things, to deliver justice for more than 3.5 million Biafrans, who were murdered between 1966 and 1970 under the directives of Northern military leaders.

The statement further stated that Igbo and Biafrans in general, have enough dossiers on past and present Hausa-Fulani military and political leaders, such that it would put most of them in the dungeon when they are released.

“Where were the northern elders during the infamous ‘Ali-must-go’ (Maitatsine riot) in Kano, which claimed the lives of many innocent people, many of who were the Igbo? Who was charged for the crime? Where was the arch tribal and high moralist professor when the people of Zaki-Biam, Katsina Ala and Odi were massacred? Have the murders been found and arraigned before the ICC, or does it follow that some lives are more valuable than others?” the group queried.

While further writing off the NEF’s threat, BHRI pointed out that such proceeding would afford the Biafran people the opportunity to expose all the genocide and other atrocities that were committed against the people of Biafra for which no one had been held to account for.

“We will make them drown in the pit they are digging because Biafrans, not just Ihejirika, will be waiting for them at the ICC in Hague. We also assure them that if they fail to follow through their plans, we will still come after them and demand justice for genocide and crime against humanity committed against our people from 1966 to 2013. Genocide crime against humanity does not have expiry date; and status, age and health condition are no barriers in prosecuting offenders,” the group warned.

The statement also urged Igbo to remain calm and law-abiding wherever they are even in the midst of what they termed, mindless provocation and threats of violence by the northern elders, just as it drew the attention of the NEF to some incidences over which they remained silent.