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Nigeria Urges Respect For Sovereignty At ICC Assembly

Published

5 minutes ago

December 1, 2025

Nigeria has called on member states of the International Criminal Court to respect the country’s sovereignty and constitutional framework as global cooperation on international justice continues to evolve.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), delivered the message on Monday at the opening of the 24th Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute in The Hague, Netherlands.

Representing President Bola Tinubu, Fagbemi conveyed Nigeria’s appreciation to the ICC and the Assembly for their “tireless efforts in ensuring a successful and meaningful session,” stressing that the country’s commitment to the Rome Statute remains unwavering.

According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant to the President (Communication and Publicity), Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi said Nigeria is determined to hold accountable those responsible for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

He noted that cooperation with the ICC is anchored in the principles of international law and the sovereign equality of states.

The minister highlighted ongoing national efforts to strengthen compliance with international humanitarian and criminal justice obligations.

These include the High-Level International Humanitarian Law Dialogue convened in May, which brought together ministries, civil society groups and academics to review Nigeria’s adherence to international norms.

Fagbemi added that the government continues to prioritise the protection of civilians during military operations and conducts investigations into alleged violations.

He cited the six-month Demobilisation, Deradicalisation and Reintegration Programme, which he said has reintegrated more than 6,000 former combatants.

He further noted that legislative processes to domesticate the Rome Statute and Additional Protocols I and II to the Geneva Conventions are ongoing, while domestication of the Kampala Convention awaits presidential assent.

According to the statement, Nigeria recently endorsed the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas and joined the Global Initiative to Garner Political Support for International Humanitarian Law.

Fagbemi reaffirmed that Nigeria has both the capacity and willingness to prosecute serious crimes committed within its jurisdiction in line with the ICC’s complementarity principle.

He said the country looks forward to the “formal conclusion of its situation by the ICC,” adding that Nigeria will continue to cooperate with the Office of the Prosecutor.

Against the backdrop of rising global conflicts, the minister condemned increasing violations of international humanitarian law, the targeting of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.

He also raised concerns over emerging technologies, including lethal autonomous weapons systems, noting that they pose “complex challenges to the protection of civilians and the attribution of responsibility.”

Fagbemi urged the ICC and the international community to adopt norms and safeguards to ensure that technology “serves humanity and not the reverse.”

He stressed that global justice mechanisms must remain sensitive to the realities of countries grappling with terrorism, insurgency and mass displacement, adding that effective cooperation—including victim support, technical assistance and information-sharing—remains essential.

The AGF reiterated Nigeria’s support for efforts to strengthen the ICC’s independence and credibility but emphasised that Africa’s “peculiar experiences and challenges must be reflected in ongoing ICC reforms.”

Fagbemi also condemned the recent cyberattacks on the ICC’s digital infrastructure, describing them as deliberate attempts to undermine the Court’s independence and erode confidence in international justice. He called for greater collaboration with technology and artificial intelligence experts to safeguard the Court’s systems.

Nigeria congratulated the newly elected member of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims and urged increased voluntary contributions to support its work in reintegration and healing for victims.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to ending impunity for the gravest international crimes, Fagbemi encouraged states that have not yet joined the Rome Statute to do so “in the interest of global peace, justice, and human dignity.”

News

BREAKING: Ex-CDS Musa meets Tinubu At Aso Villa

Published

1 hour ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Musa was spotted arriving at the State House at 7:03 pm on Monday as he was led into the President’s office area by a senior security official.

Dressed in dark-green traditional northern attire with elbow-length sleeves, Musa is meeting the President publicly for the first time since Tinubu retired him on October 24, 2025.

The purpose of the meeting was not immediately known.

It comes amid heightened security concerns in the North, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara, and the kidnapping of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna, as security agencies intensify counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across the North-West and North-Central.

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Insecurity: Former NYSC Director Tasks Corps Members On Self, Environmental Consciousness

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5 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

A retired Director, Information and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate Headquarters, Eddy Megwa, has called on all corps members serving in the country to take their personal security seriously, always be self and environmental conscious.

The former Director made the call at the Bauchi NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Monday.

He warned that the times were evil, therefore vigilance, self consciousness and consciousness of the environment were of paramount importance.

He also called on them to serve the nation with loyalty, commitment and zeal for patriotism, adding that no nation grew without the selfless service of the citizens and called on the corps members to rise up and make the desired change.

“I want to urge you all to deliberately work towards building a great nation of our collective dreams.

“This is because if we have a country that is working very well, the youths will not be desperate about relocating to other countries of the world for greener pastures,” he said.

Megwa further discouraged the youth from illegal migration, describing it as a suicide mission as many of such ‘desperate people’ ended up losing their lives in the Sahara desert in the most gruesome manner.

The former NYSC Spokesman encouraged the corps members to strive for excellence in all they do and achieve even what their forebears could not achieve.

“There are a whole lot of opportunities you have now and can leverage on which the older generation never had.”

He told his audience not to put their names and their families into disrepute by getting themselves involved in crimes and other unwholesome activities.

“The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC is the panacea to graduate unemployment.

“I want to, therefore, advise you to take advantage of the programme by learning skills that will be useful to you in the future.”

Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state’s Coordinator of NYSC, appreciated the retired Director for the visit and words of motivation to both camp officials and corps members.

He described the former Director as a living legend that shaped the NYSC Public Relations Unit to what it is today and left his footprints boldly.

News

NiMet Predicts Three-day Sunshine, Cloudiness From Monday

Published

5 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.‎

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja envisaged sunny skies over the entire northern region throughout the forecast period on Monday.‎

It envisaged ‎sunny skies with patches of clouds over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, ‎cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals is anticipated over the region with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River during the afternoon to evening hours,” it said‎According to NiMet, dust haze is anticipated over Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and Yobe on Tuesday throughout the forecast period.‎It anticipated sunny skies with cloud patches over the entire central region.

“For ‎southern region, ‎cloudy skies are expected over the region with slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of ‎Cross River during morning hours.‎” Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day,” it said.‎

The agency predicted dust haze over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.‎NiMet anticipated a sunny and hazy atmosphere over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, cloudy atmosphere are over the region in the morning hours.‎

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers ” it said.

NiMet urged the public to drive under the rain with caution and to take necessary precautions as ‎dust particles would be in suspension over the northern region.

NiMet advised people with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather ‎conditions.

‎”Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.‎” Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet – visit our website – www.nimet.gov.ng.