by Kolapo Olapoju
The International Criminal Court has stated that Nigeria’s
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, will be probed.
The ICC says it has begun conducting preliminary
examinations relating to the situations in Nigeria.
The office of the prosecutor disclosed that it received the
petition written by Nigeria’s main opposition party, the All Progressives
Congress, urging the court to prosecute President Goodluck Jonathan’s wife for
making inciting comments that might lead to violence.
“Under Article 15 of the Rome Statue, the Prosecutor of the
ICC may receive information on crimes within the jurisdiction on the Court
(also called ‘Communication’).”
“With regards to your enquiry, the Office of the Prosecutor
of the International Criminal Court can confirm receipt of the communication
referred to since the sender (APC) has made this fact public in the media.”
The ICC says it would take all the required steps and
possibly interrogate the Patience Jonathan and others mentioned in the petition
of the APC.
“The office will give consideration to this communication,
as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statue of the
International Criminal Court, as it does with all such communications,” the
email sent to our correspondent concluded.