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JURISDICTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT


The International Criminal Court is established by the International Criminal Court Statute (otherwise known as the Rome Statute) adopted in a United Nations diplomatic conference held in July 1999. Nigeria ratified the statute on the 20th April 2002. The permanent seat of the International Criminal Court is at the Hague in Netherlands. see Article 3(3) of the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

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Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court over Offences – Article 5(1) thereof.

The International Criminal Court hears only serious violations of International Human Rights Laws. Examples are:

a)           Genocide
b)          Crimes against humanity
c)           War crimes
d)          Aggression

Please note that jurisdiction in the case of the crime of Aggression cannot be invoked until 2017 or when 20 state parties have signed.

Note also that the International Criminal Court (ICC) cannot execute a warrant of arrest against a Non State Party; example USA & China. iIt has recently been reported that Russia has joined the list of non-state parties.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) crimes do not apply retroactively. It only has jurisdiction over crimes committed On or After 1st July, 2002. Also, International Criminal Court (ICC) crimes are not subject to statute of limitations - Article 29 thereof.

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Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court Over Persons

The criminal jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court applies to persons committing serious crimes of international concern - Article 1 thereof. The International Criminal Court can only try persons not states - Articles 25 thereof. However, any such person must be a citizen of a state party to the International Criminal Court Statute. Again, the doctrine of state immunity does not apply to the criminal jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court - Article 27 thereof. Also, the Statute of the International Criminal Court provides for Individual responsibility -Article 25 thereof.

Jurisdiction Of The International Criminal Court Over Minors

The International Criminal Court does not exercise jurisdiction over minors. The International Criminal Court (ICC) exercises jurisdiction over persons over 18 years - Article 26 thereof.

Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to Impose Punishment - Article 77 thereof.

The International Criminal Court cannot impose death penalty. It can however, impose life imprisonment when justified. Nevertheless, the maximum term of punishment is 30 years imprisonment. Nevertheless, there may be an additional fine and an order of forfeiture without prejudice to bona fide purchasers.

Please note that Appeals may be lodged with the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court under Article 39 thereof.

Relationship between the International Criminal Court (ICC) And National Courts

The first point is that the International Criminal Court's criminal jurisdiction is complimentary to national criminal jurisdictions. Secondly, the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a court of last resort. It will only act where state parties are unable or unwilling to prosecute - Article 17 thereof.

How is the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Initiated?

a.          A state party will lodge a complaint with the prosecutor -  see Article 14  of the United Nations Charter.

b.          Referral from the United Nations Security Council

c.          Prosecutor may initiate investigation on its own.



All the above may happen where the alleged crime was committed on the territory of a state party (or where the state on whose territory the crime was committed has accepted the jurisdiction of the court).

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