Pres Jonathan Should Arrest Modu Sheriff, Gen Ihejirika Now APC

President Goodluck Jonathan should arrest former governor of Borno State Ali Modu Sheriff and former chief of army staff Lt. Gen Azubuike Ihejirika and take them to the International Court of Justice (ICC) for allegedly sponsoring the Boko Haram terrorists as claimed by the Australian negotiator, Dr Stephen Davis.
The call was made by the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr John Odigie-Oyegun, while reacting to the interview granted by the Australian negotiator on Arise Television and Sahara Reporters last week.
Davis, who claimed he was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan to help secure the release of the over 200 girls who were abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, disclosed that both Sheriff and Ihejirika were among the sponsors of the terrorists and argued that, until the sponsors are arrested, the war against terror would remain unabated.
Although the two prominent citizens have denied the allegation, the APC leadership dismissed their defence as useless and urged Jonathan to bring them to book. It said the revelation has vindicated the party on the allegation that it is the sponsor of terrorism.
Odigie-Oyegun stated: Now that the cat has been let out of the bag and the real sponsors of Boko Haram have been exposed, we hope President Jonathan will summon the courage to do the right thing: hand over the identified Boko Haram sponsors to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution.
 
There is no doubt that Boko Haram has committed crimes against humanity in its scorched-earth campaign against unarmed citizens, and the most appropriate body to investigate and try the sects sponsors is the ICC.
According to Article 17 of the Rome Statute that set up the ICC, and to which Nigeria is signatory, the ICC is a court of last resort, expected to exercise its jurisdiction only if states themselves are unwilling or unable genuinely to investigate and prosecute international crimes.
In view of the fact that the alleged Boko Haram sponsors are either members of the ruling party or friends of the president, it is clear that the PDP-led federal government is unwilling and unable to try them, hence our call.
Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke after allowing journalists to watch the video of the interview granted by Davis, assured the populace that the matter would not be swept under the carpet: Nigerians can be rest assured that the APC will not allow this issue to be swept under the carpet. Now that it is clear that the PDP is behind Boko Haram for the sole purpose of winning next years presidential election, Nigerians must prevail on the PDP and the Presidency to urgently end this insurgency and the daily killing and maiming of innocent Nigerians!



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