Lagos played host to Capacity-building for military prosecutors to address the most serious and complex crimes under Nigerian criminal law.
From 28-30 June, Wayamo organised a capacity-building workshop for military investigators and prosecutors on ‘STRENGTHENING JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA’ at the Southern Sun Hotel Ikoyi in Lagos (see programme).
The three-day workshop was organised by the Wayamo Foundation, the International Nuremberg Principles Academy and the Africa Group for Justice and Accountability and was opened by General Yusuf Shalangwa, the Director of Legal Services of the Nigerian Army.
This June workshop is the first training session for Nigerian military investigators and prosecutors.
The Chief of Army Staff has kindly agreed to send 20 investigators and prosecutors to the workshop. The objective of the ongoing training programme is to build capacity to address the most serious and complex crimes under Nigerian criminal law (international, transnational and terrorism- related crimes), including those crimes that potentially fall under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court.
The trainers are national and international experts in International Criminal Justice and Military Law, including: Andrew Cayley, QC, Director of Service Prosecutions, Service Prosecuting Authority, Ministry of Defence, UK, Claus Molitor, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, Charles Garraway, Fellow Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, Retired Colonel, United Kingdom Army Legal Services, Dapo Akande, Professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford, Fergal Gaynor, Team Leader and Senior Counsel, Commission for International Justice and Accountability, Olawale Fapohunda, former Attorney General of Ekiti State, and Chair, Nigerian Military Human Rights Dialogue and Rodney Dixon QC, Barrister, Temple Garden Chambers, London.
The training included the following topics, followed by practical exercises: Introduction to International Criminal Law and the Geneva Conventions, The ICC in Nigeria – Status of the activities of the Office of the Prosecutor and admissibility requirements, Complementarity regime at the ICC – Legal requirements and practical examples including the UK, Kenya and Libya, Military justice system and military rules of evidence, Investigating and prosecuting leadership cases and trial advocacy.
After two highly successful events for civil prosecutors held in Abuja and in Lagos in December 2016 and March 2017, this event continues the progress made in strengthening justice and accountability in Nigeria and is organised in collaboration with the Chief of Army Staff. It aims to set the standard for prosecutions of serious international crimes in the future, with funding from the Ford Foundation.
Coverage of workshop by Lagos Television:
Click here for our press release and here for pictures.
