A Nigerian human rights group on Monday asked the International Criminal Court to bring charges against Nigerian presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari for post-election violence in 2011. The Northern Coalition for Democracy and Justice said in a statement Buhari should face justice over the violence, when 800 people were killed and many churches and schools were destroyed.
The ICC has been looking into possible war crimes in Nigeria since 2010, but few believe it would be keen to take on another powerful politician after being forced to drop charges against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier this month. Buhari’s All Progressives Congress party denied the claims, saying they were politically motivated.
“They will not stop at anything to try to derail General Buhari,” said spokesman Lai Mohammed. “I can see the hands of the government behind it.”
Nigerian officials were not immediately available to respond.
Comments are closed.