Nigeria may Make Special Declaration On African Court On Human And People’s Right –VP Sambo  Newsdiaryonline  Fri Dec 2,2011

 
Sambo:VP

Vice President Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo has assured the President of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Right that the country shall look at the request of the court favourably towards ratifying the special declaration to enable individuals and non governmental organizations to access the court.

The Vice President gave this assurance when the president and members of the African Court on Human and Peoples Right paid him a courtesy call in his office.  Arc Sambo noted that the cardinal principle of this administration is the strict observance of the Rule of Law and Natural Justice.  He welcomed the distinguished jurists to the country and expressed optimism that the sensitization programme they were currently embarking upon would greatly assist in making the court not only functional but optimally used.  He promised to convey the request of the jurists to President Goodluck Jonathan so that their request will be looked into favourably.  He further confirmed that government has demonstrated equity and fairness during the April 2011 elections, by ensuring that everyone freely exercises his franchise as his fundamental human right.  He promised that the country shall seek the advice of the court to further its objective of transparency and good governance.

According to a press release by Umar Sani, senior special assistant (media and publicity) to the vice president ,earlier the President of the court Hon Gerard Niyungello stated that the jurists were in the country on a sensitization visit.  He posited that the court is one of the institutions of the African Union that came into existence in 2006 and was administratively and judicially operational.  He said that despite that, they were facing some challenges which he listed including   Low rate of ratification of the protocol.  Only 26 member countries have so far ratified the protocol out of 54 countries;Member  states must make special declaration to enable individuals and non-governmental organizations come before the court.  Only five countries have so far made such special declaration, explaining that by that exercise the court had jurisdiction over only five countries.  He stated that Nigeria is yet to make such special declaration ;and t he court, he also noted is not really optimally used as according to him they have as today only twelve cases which were purely advisory cases. He said that they expect to have more cases, being a continental court, to be seen to be optimally used.

He requested that Nigeria should consider the possibility of making the special declaration as the country is one of the first countries to ratify the protocol, nominate a judge to the court and a foremost supporter of the court being in the forefront of making the court operational. 

In attendance were Hon Modibbo Tonty Gumdo, Hon Elsie Thompson, Hon Sylvain Ore all judges of the court and representatives of the Foreign Affairs Ministry amongst others.

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This is the document referred to in the Witness

Statement on Oath of Clifford O. Kokogho as

“Exhibit COK.2”

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