The International Criminal Court and Nigeria

If Nigeria fails to prosecute the crimes recognised under the Rome Statute, then the International Criminal Court (ICC) will intervene. The ICC is only expected to complement the criminal justice system in Nigeria and is not a court of first instance, but one of last resort. This is what is known as the principle of complementarity. Before the ICC can step in, it must make a finding of ‘unwillingness’ or ‘inability’ on the part of Nigeria. It is only after this finding is made that the ICC can t