October 9, 2012- POLITICS

“It would be impossible for Nigeria to satisfy the requirements of Articles 61(1) - (5) of the ICJ Statute. Government has therefore decided that it will not be in the national interest to apply for revision of the 2002 ICJ Judgment in respect of the Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.

“Government is, however, concerned about the plight of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula and the allegations of human rights abuses being perpetrated against Nigerians in the Peninsula and is determined to engage Cameroon within the framework of the existing implementation mechanisms agreed to by Nigeria and Cameroon in order to protect the rights and livelihoods of Nigerians living in the Peninsula,” (Attorney-general of the federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke).

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will address the nation at 7am tomorrow (today), Tuesday, October 9, 2012.

“All television and radio stations in the country are advised to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) for the broadcast.” (Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati).

“The Presidential Advisory Committee set up by President Jonathan is yet to submit its report as I am talking. Although the report may be submitted today (yesterday) to President Jonathan, it is the president who has the final say.

“The appeal cannot be filed by the office of the AGF until a go-ahead comes from the president.

“The AGF himself will address the press shortly over this matter as soon as the position of President Jonathan is made known.” (A source close to the office of the AGF).

 “If Nigeria wanted to ask for a review of the ICJ judgement, it ought to have given the UN six months’ notice of her intention to ask for the review of the case. The notice of intent will set the tone for the process; and we never did that.

“In any case, we willingly submitted ourselves for the legal process that led to the judgement and we cannot turn around to say the judgement was not domesticated. The facts used against us were obtained from our country.”

“Nigeria is staking a claim on false premise. What is the administrative history of the Bakassi territory? What is the point flogging an issue that is straightforward and verifiable?

“Was the creation of Bakassi local government area at the height of the dispute not a mortally strategic blunder? Is there any truth in ancestral or residual claims over Bakassi? Who in truth are the displaced persons and where are they located today?” (A senior lawyer).Leadership

 “I think appeal is a line of action that should not be neglected because that is legal, since Nigeria subjected itself to the court. And if that is what is available through the court, we should also utilise it. I think that is the most appropriate thing to do at this point in time.” (Senate president David Mark).

 “An application for revision of a judgment may be made only when it is based upon the discovery of some facts of such a nature as to be a decisive factor, which fact was, when the judgement was given, unknown to the Court and also to the party claiming revision, always provided that such ignorance was not due to negligence.” (Article 61 (5) of the ICJ).

 “Nigeria recognises the important role of the International Court of Justice and other international tribunals in the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

“The work of the ICJ and other international criminal tribunals has contributed to the promotion of world peace and security as well as ending impunity around the globe by holding accountable those responsible for grave violations of international and humanitarian law.

“Member states should therefore continue to provide support for these international adjudicatory mechanisms to enable them discharge their respective mandates.” (Dr. Reuben Abati quoting President Jonathan).