President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated former service chiefs as ambassadors in a move to preempt the international criminal court from charging them for war crimes.
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 include: Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd ), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) and Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd).
The ex-service cheifs were nominated as non-career ambassadors barely a week after they were asked to resign.
The ICC and other international bodies were flooded with petitions demanding that
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.
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.
