By Jeffrey Ahonmisi

Some stakeholders in Ibadan have called on the Federal government to prosecute individuals or groups that have committed heinous crimes against the country to serve as deterrent to others.

The stakeholders also advocated compensations for victims of grave crime as committing the aggressors to jail is not enough punishment for justice to have been perceived to be served.

They stated this while speaking on the Commemoration of this year international criminal justice day.

Every 17th of July is the Day of International Criminal Justice. The day marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute on 17th of July 1998, the founding treaty of the international criminal court, ICC, which seeks to protect people from genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.  

The day unites all those who support justice, promote victims’ rights, and help prevent crimes that threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world.

The world over, countries are battling with one conflict or the other which has trampled on the fundamental right of their citizens

An instance is the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

According to The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, the war had led to over nine thousand people been killed while an estimated 8 million people had been displaced.

Also, in Africa, an armed conflict between rival factions of the military government of Sudan began in April this year.

According to report, between three thousand to five thousand people have been killed while over two million have been internally displaced. 

In Nigeria, thousands have been killed and many more displaced due to banditry, kidnapping and unknown gunmen attacks.

Speaking on how victims of this crimes could get justice, a human right activist, Mr Martin Omobude stressed that it was not enough to prosecute perpetrators of heinous crime and neglect the victims.

Mr Omobude also called on government to compel its agencies like the police whose citizens had gotten favourable judgment against for brutality or other infractions to abide by court orders for justice to have been duly served.

Corroborating, Mr Omobude’s submission, a right activist, Dr Oluwakemi Aremu also advocated alternative dispute resolutions for victims.

To a legal practitioner, Mr Ayo Arowosafe, citizens or government should not read sentiment into any crime as it might amount to injustice to victims

Some residents of Ibadan who spoke with Radio Nigeria said perpetrators of serious crimes must face the full weight of the law

The theme of this year World Day of International Crminal Justice is “Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice

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