Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Nigerians Petition UN Over Political Murders In Benue-The Guardian, Lagos
Luis Moreno, prosecutor at the ICC
By Laolu Akande for Guardian newspaper, Lagos
As the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, disclosed that details of his reports on the preliminary investigations on the Jos killing would be made public soon, US-based Nigerians are filing a new petition with another arm of the United Nations, seeking a fresh human rights violation investigations in Benue State.
Citing several international media reports, including news reports about the violence in the state by the New York Times, to back their claims, the Nigerian-Americans, who filed the petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, are supporters of the ACN gubernatorial candidate in this year’s elections, Prof. Steve Ugbah, who ran against the incumbent PDP governor, Gabriel Suswam.
Although Suswam was declared winner, the ACN candidate, an American professor, challenged the results, causing a series of political violence and alleged human rights abuses in the state.
The alleged abuse amounted to Crimes Against Humanity that ought to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court at The Hague.
In addition to politically motivated murders, the ruling party has tended to harass the opposition at every opportunity they get, according to the petition.
The Steve Ugbah Committee of Friends, the US-based Nigerians, which included Ugbah’s wife, Stevelina, herself also a US Professor and Dr. Baba Adam, a former PRONACO US leader, sent the petition to the UN body.
In it, they said: “We are requesting that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to investigate and hold culpable people or groups of people in the Benue State government, especially the leadership responsible for these gross violations of human rights, which include the murder of unarmed civilians.”
They added that, “in the last six months, several unarmed civilians have been murdered in Benue State, Nigeria, seemingly with the approval of the incumbent state governor,” whose government allegedly failed to act in protection of life of citizens.
The petitioners insist that, “unarmed civilian killing thrives where its occurrence receives little or no response from the government, as well as failure to address the root causes and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Recalling that Nigeria is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the petitioners noted that, “Nigeria has a responsibility to take appropriate actions as recommended by the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations to protect life, investigate such crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
The US-based Nigerians say those who had been killed in Benue State “are supporters of the opposition political party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Benue State.”
They included the murders of Mr. Charles Ayede on May 13, 2011, and Mr. Celestine Ahemba Agber alongside with his cousin, Mr. Shangev Orayor said to have been brutally murdered on October 17, 2011.
“These three politically motivated murders in Benue State fall under the violations of the OHCHR’s Rule of Law mandate,” the petitioners declared.
When Prof. Ugbah, according to his American supporters, complained about the murder of Mr. Ayede, and voluntarily responded to an invitation by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, “Prof. Ugbah was arrested on May 23, 2011, at the Nigeria Police headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.”
“Prof. Ugbah’s arrest was ordered by his political opponent, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State,” they alleged.
The petitioners asked that the UN OHCHR “investigate and charge Dr. Gabriel Suswam, Governor of Benue State (Peoples Democratic Party – PDP chieftain in Benue State), and Gen. David Mark, Senate President (Benue citizen — PDP chieftain) and any of their accomplices, who was directly involved with these crimes.”
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...
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Talk about Foreign Accounts
Submitted by Olanikum Agagu (not verified) on November 9, 2011 - 21:22.
How many foreign bank accounts do OBJ, David Mark,Patience Jonathan, TY Danjuma, Tony Anennih have?
I am just curious.
Greatest USA based Nigerians!
Submitted by Ishaks A. (not verified) on November 8, 2011 - 21:41.
Greatest USA based Nigerians! I salute ur courage. If the Almighty do not come to our resque, we are gradually perishing in our fatherland. People are been murderd every night and day in Benue state like sheep who have no Shepherd
UN should please Investigate
Submitted by Armsty (not verified) on November 8, 2011 - 14:34.
As a benue indigene,it has been worrysome for us as mobility in the state has been marred by Suswam's personal sponsored police/ military personnel harrassing inocent citizens. Our wish is that the Nigerian judiciary should live up to the yearnings of the suffering Benue indigenes. We are tired and if the ICC can intervene we (the masses) would be overjoyed. Prof S Ugbar we voted for & can't wait to see him take over the government house.
Ugbah is a native
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 8, 2011 - 07:01.
Youranalogyiswrong._gbahisnosettler,heisanative.4uswanisterroristandyesACNisrightfotkgtheircasetoICClettheworlldknohohoplessthe,igerian/ovtis.
Ugbah is a native
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 8, 2011 - 06:58.
Youranalogyiswrong._gbahisnosettler,heisanative.4uswanisterroristandyesACNisrightfotkgtheircasetoICClettheworlldknohohoplessthe,igerian/ovtis.
Nigerians petition UN over Benue killings
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 11:13.
That Nigerians have resorted to the intervention of the UN in matters that relate to killings committed in the country indicate failure on the part of the home government to proffer impartial mediation. Crimes against humanity have been severally committed in the country by government and security agents. The killings in Benue State have the traits of pogrom; they resemble acts of crimes against humanity. It would then be no wrong if an independent arbiter looks into the petition and assuage those wronged.
Luis Moreno is a Joke.
Submitted by Gen Rommel (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 10:23.
Nigerians should stop looking to these Bogus International bodies in the likes of ICC as Arbitrators on domestic issues. ICC is an instrument of the West in projecting Power in the the Developing World under the guise of rule of Law. The United States doesn't even recognise this body, this Man Moreno only goes about to execerbate issues wherever he puts his hands into. He Worsened the Libyan conflict by not giving a negotiating room & exit strategy for Ghadaffi's regime. Thus leading to NATO's bombing Libya back to 50 years ago. Luis Moreno & his Kangaroo Court has no record of doing anything right & operates on double Standards, one for Africa & another perception to War crimes being commited in Israel, US in Afghanistan & Irag. Worst & Most recetly in Ivory Coast by French & in Libya by NATO.
High time Suswam the cert. forger and killer got his dues
Submitted by Onitire Okafor (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 08:53.
This is a bold and courageous move - a step in the right direction by the USA-based human rights advocates. The illegitimate Benue governor, Sauswam, has been terrorizing Benue and murdering his perceived political enemies with impunity. Because Suswam is one of those that helped Jonathan rig himself to power as president, the corrupt man has been behaving as if he is above the law. The UN should immediately start the investigation process. This should lead to charges being laid followed by a trial and a conviction. Suswam is a dangerous killer.
@Jakovic.
Submitted by Koboko-Dem! (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 07:23.
Jakovic,
Brother, are drunk on Brukutu? Where in the world did you read in the article about Tinubu, or Qaddafi's troops on Viagra?
The article, if I may remind you, is about a petition to the UN Human Rights Council, by concerned Nigerian-Americans, regarding the very worrisome issue of politically-motivated assassinations in Benue State!
And, for crying out loud, what is all that talk about Tuaregs and Boko Haram?
Are you, brother, a failure of the Benue State educational system?
The petitioners should "ride on"! There are just too many unexplained deaths of politically-active persons in Benue State! Abi, na lie?
Nigerians Saving Nigerians:
Submitted by Omololu Omotosho (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 03:50.
Nigerians Saving Nigerians: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nigerians-Saving-Nigerians/274663389221287...
Petition to UN
Submitted by Olatunde Okedara (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 00:14.
There is a gross abuse of the use of the comment option. The views expressed here shows a lack of appreciation of what is at stake in the petition or a deliberate trivialization of it by some whose stock in trade is make nonsense of serious issues due to a lack of intellectual depth.
Again and again, one sees naked display of intellectual and moral bankruptcy in the way some correspondents use the comment option. Unfortunately this is one of them.
What has Tinubu's 15 foreign bank accounts got to do with the petition to the UN Human Rights Commission with respect to what is happening in Benue State? Why will anyone choose to display his ignorance and intellectual banality to the whole world with a flourish and ostentation?
Nigeria is not a sick nation for nothing!
IT is a nice idea their is
Submitted by nneoma (not verified) on November 7, 2011 - 00:10.
IT is a nice idea their is nothing wrong with that we need more accountability in Nigeria, Jakovic or whatever your name is its fools like you that allowed all kind of nuisance to go on in Niogeria due to your ignorance i always pity the fool but am not going to pity you.
settlers versus tinubu and his 15 bank accounts
Submitted by jakovic (not verified) on November 6, 2011 - 23:11.
I laugh. The same UN that lied about Gaddafi issuing viagara to soldiers? ACN will be beter off explaining how Tinubu came about 15 foreign bank accounts than have the ICC investigate the activities of boko haram in nigeria-the crisis in benue is about boko haram led by their tuareg king and the natives---settlers versus natives
