The International Criminal Court (ICC) has elected Nigerian Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji as its president for a three-year term.
The election by the ICC judges which took place on Sunday during a plenary will see the Nigerian judge taking over from Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi whose term has ended.
Czech Republic’s Judge Robert Fremr, was elected first vice president to replace Kenyan judge Joyce Aluoch who left the court after serving in that capacity since 2015.
French Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut has also taken over from Judge Kuniko Ozaki as second vice president.
Chile Eboe-Osuji presided over Kenya’s post-election violence cases against the country’s Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang.
Judge Osuji in his acceptance speech said “I am deeply honored to have been elected by my peers as president of the International Criminal Court. I look forward to working together with (the new leadership) as well as with all the judges, all the officials and the staff of the court in a spirit of collegiality.”
Osuji further said “I also look forward to collaborating with the Assembly of States Parties, civil society and the international community at large, acting together to strengthen and reinforce the Rome Statute system.”
The presidency of the ICC takes charge of the proper administration of the court by overseeing the court’s registry and conducting judicial review of certain decisions of the registrar.
It also implements the court’s cooperation agreements with states and international organisations. The Office of the Prosecutor however is independent.
Source: Africafeeds.com
