Rotimi Amaechi, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, has suggested that President Bola Tinubu could face arrest and trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague if violence linked to the Nigerian government reaches a threshold under international law.
Speaking to ADC stakeholders in a video, Amaechi said a specified number of deaths would need to occur in Nigeria before the ICC could pursue Tinubu. He urged the president to reconsider what he described as the administration’s pressure on opposition figures, referring to the detention of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the deaths of thousands of people.
“We have to be prepared. Do you know why? International law sets a number of people who must be killed by this government before Tinubu can be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court,” Amaechi said.
“His Attorney-General used to be my lawyer, and he knows the number of people the government would have to kill before Tinubu is prosecuted. Tinubu will not get out of Nigeria. Even if he tries to leave, they will take him from here,” he said.
Amaechi referred to the former Philippine leader, saying that 5,000 people had been killed before authorities located and detained him. He said the Philippine president attempted to prevent the arrest at the airport.
“They told the president, ‘We will not leave him alone.’ Following discussions with the president, they took him away, and he remains in detention,” Amaechi said.
He said anyone familiar with international law would understand the potential consequences, adding that Tinubu was also aware of the issue.
Amaechi said accountability would not be limited to the president. “International law does not mean they will arrest only Tinubu. The general who gives the order, the Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector-General of Police who issue the instructions can also be arrested. That is how international law works. So when they fire shots, it is meant to intimidate you, and you must resist,” he said.
