ICC confirms receipt of complaint against Amnesty International

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed receipt of a petition against the activities of Amnesty International in Nigeria.

The acknowledgement letter with reference number OTP-CR+265/16 was dated September 9 and was signed by Mr. Mark Dillon, Head of
Information and Evidence in the Office of the Prosecutor.

Dillon stated in the letter that the court was in custody of a complaint by a civil society organisation from Nigeria, the Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET), requesting the prosecutor to open a criminal investigation into the activities of the international human rights organisation.

The ICC said in its response to the petition: “Office of the ICC acknowledges the receipt of your document/letter. This communication has been duly entered in the communication register of the office.

“We will give consideration as appropriate in accordance with the provision of the Rome Stature of ICC.”

CESJET had taken Amnesty International before the International Criminal Court over its report, which accused Nigeria of human rights violation.

In a petition submitted to the office of The Prosecutor, ICC, Madame Fatou Bensouda, ‎CESJET, through its counsel, Edward Omaga, said that Amnesty International, in the course of promoting and protecting human rights, has derailed into an incendiary and partisan goal.‎

The petition reads in part: “Against the background of its 2015/2016 Annual Report in which it raises questions on the appalling human rights situation across the globe and scores Nigeria low as an abuser of human rights, it is pertinent to state that the ombudsman mission of Amnesty International in promoting and protecting human rights has veered into an incendiary and partisan goal.

“For now, lopsided views, shortsighted and hasty conclusions, some not backed by facts are Amnesty International’s hallmark, instead of bold objectivity in the pursuit of its vision.

“Indeed, there may be real or perceived cases of arbitrary brutalisation of persons by security officials but these cases must not be exaggerated to denigrate the sovereignty of a nation.”

eeds of sovereign independent nations.