Buhari nominates Buratai, other ex-service chiefs as ambassadors to block ICC war crimes charges
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday moved to preempt the International Criminal Court by nominating former service chiefs as ambassadors.
Tukur Buratai, Sadique Abubakar, Gabriel Olonisakin and Ibok Ekwe Ibas were asked to resign on January 26, with the president filling their respective positions immediately.
Barely a week on, Mr. Buhari has now sent the names of the former military chiefs to the Senate, seeking their approval as non-career ambassadors.
Petitions have flooded the ICC and other international bodies for Mr. Buratai to be charged for war crimes over his role in the December 2015 massacre of Shiites in Zaria, October 20, 2020, deadly attacks on protesters in Lagos, amongst other disproportionate use of military force against civilians.
Top ICC Fatou Bensouda disclosed in December that her office had established sufficient grounds to proceed with war crimes investigation against Mr. Buratai and other military chiefs over multiple cases of crimes against humanity in Nigeria.
But Mr. Buratai’s new role as a diplomat could complicate calls for his prosecution, even though he said he was not afraid of war crime charges.
PRESIDENT BUHARI NOMINATES OLONISAKIN, BURATAI, IBAS, ABUBAKAR, USMAN AS NON-CAREER AMBASSADORS
President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the names of the immediate past Service Chiefs to the Senate as non-career Ambassadors-Designate.
In a letter to Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, President of the Senate, the President said: “In accordance with section 171 (1), (2) (c) & sub-section (4) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I have the honour to forward for confirmation by the Senate, the under-listed five (5) names of nominees as Non-Career Ambassadors-Designate.”
The nominees are: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd).
The President urged the Senate to give expeditious consideration to the nominations.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
February 4, 2021.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Police nab four suspects for alleged child trafficking in Abia
Ms Chinaka said the suspects allegedly conspired to steal a four-day-old baby from her mentally unstable mother.
Agriculture
Enugu hires over 160 professionals to revive livestock production
Mr Ubru said the recruitment was in fulfilment of Governor Peter Mbah’s vision to revamp the agricultural sector.
Heading 2
Plateau government disburses N1.5 billion intervention funds to attack victims
Governor Caleb Mutfwang formally inaugurated the disbursement of the funds on Monday in Jos.
Heading 5
Don’t destroy APC like you did PDP, group warns Wike
Mr Wike has insisted that his major political priority remained securing the re-election of Mr Tinubu in 2027.
Heading 1
Atiku condemns Tinubu’s prolonged vacation abroad, says Nigeria can’t be governed on autopilot
Mr Onanuga said that the president would return to the country at the weekend.
Economy
ECOWAS to honour 60 West African start-ups
The top three start-ups will receive $30,000, $20,000 and $15,000 respectively in seed funding.
