Buhari Leaves Abuja Sunday For Hague to Attend ICC 20th Anniversary

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, July 14th, 2018

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – President Muhammadu Buhari will Sunday depart Nigeria for the Netherlands where he is scheduled to participate in activities to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), at The Hague.

In a statement issued Saturday by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adeshina President Buhari was invited to deliver a keynote address during the “Solemn Hearing” to commemorate the anniversary at Courtroom 1 of the ICC’s Headquarters at The Hague.

Adesina said in buttressing Nigeria’s commitment as a member of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, the President will use the global platform to reaffirm Nigeria’s support to the fundamental values of the Rome Statute and to the ideals of the ICC.

He added that Mr. President will also highlight his administration’s campaign against corruption in Nigeria.

The statement confirmed that after the event at the Courtroom, Buhari will have a bilateral meeting with the ICC Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda.

“President Buhari will attend a dinner hosted by Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji, the president of the ICC, who is a Nigerian.

“The Nigerian leader, while in The Hague, will meet with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to discuss bilateral issues such as migration, peace and security, and economic cooperation’’ Adesina stated.

President Buhari and his delegation will have a separate roundtable with some Dutch Chief Executive Officers of companies based in Nigeria with a view to urging them to expand their investments, especially in agriculture, oil and gas in Nigeria.

Similarly, he will tour the Port of Rotterdam and Shell refinery Pernis, Hoogvliet.

The President’s visit, Nigeria and the Netherlands will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultations.

The President’s delegation to the trip will include Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

Others are the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; the Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar; the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru; and the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman.