A group that identifies itself as African Network For International Criminal Justice has written the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) to withdraw the invitation extended to the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.
The Group, in a letter, addressed to the TCCP Chairman, Prof. Konyin Ajayi, SAN, said Blair has accusations of committing war crimes on his neck because the former Prime Minister allegedly invaded Iraq leading to dead of hundreds of thousands of Iraq citizens
The Group added that there have been campaigns around the world seeking the prosecution of Blair and several requests have been submitted to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to that effect. It, therefore, called on TCCP to disinvite Blair since the mission of NBA is to promote Rule of Law.
Read the full letter below:
AFRICAN NETWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE (ANICJ)
August 25, 2020
Prof Koyinsola Ajayi, SAN
Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP)
Nigerian Bar Association, NBA
Central Business District, Abuja
*REQUEST TO WITHDRAW THE INVITATION OF TONY BLAIR TO 2020 NBA 60TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE*
We are a network of advocates and non-profit organizations, committed to promoting international criminal justice across Africa.
We hereby request that the Nigerian Bar Association withdraws the invitation it extended to Mr. Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, to speak at its 60th Annual Conference taking place between August 26 and 28, 2020, because Mr. Blair has been widely accused to have committed war crimes and crimes of aggression in Iraq along with former US President, George W Bush. Both crimes are international crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Mr. Blair has been confirmed by UK government inquiry into the US/UK – led invasion of Iraq to have lied that Saddam Hussein in Iraq stockpiled weapons of mass destruction, when he had intelligence reports to the contrary. It was on basis of those lies that Iraq was invaded in 2003, resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.
There have been legal proceedings in the UK as well as widespread legal campaigns around the world including in Africa, to bring Mr. Blair to justice for committing war crimes and crime of aggression by invading Iraq in 2003 to overthrow its leader. The *Chilcot report* , a UK government’s inquiry into Britain’s role in the war, concluded that Mr. Blair clearly knew at the time that Iraq had no weapon of mass destruction
Furthermore, according to notable British media, *The Independent* , a third of British People want to see Mr. Tony Blair tried as a war criminal over Iraq, and several requests for indictment have been submitted to the Office of the Trial Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). It has been established beyond doubt that Mr. Blair knowingly misled the UK parliament and the public in the invasion of Iraq, and should be tried as a suspected war criminal.
We hereby protest the invitation of Mr. Blair to the NBA AGC 2020, despite Nigeria’s leading position in the International Criminal Court. Nigeria is a state party to the Rome Statute of the ICC, and the current President of the Court is a Nigerian, Judge Chile eboe –Osuji.
We therefore request the NBA conference technical committee to withdraw its invitation to Mr. Tony Blair. The mission of the NBA is to promote the rule of law and the association cannot justifiably provide platform for such persons alleged to have committed war crimes.
Yours faithfully
Signed
*Chino Obiagwu, SAN*
Coordinator, African Network for the International Criminal Justice
For:
· African Network for the International Criminal Justice (ANICJ)
· Nigerian Coalition for the International Criminal Court (NCICC)
· Moyo Pan Afrikan Solidarity Centre
· Centre for Labour studies
· Legal Defence and Assistance project (LEDAP)
· People’s Alternative Font
· Civil Society Network against Corruption
