Janet Samuel, Abuja
A member of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has expressed his support for international collaboration in establishing a special tribunal in the Gambia to prosecute those responsible for human rights abuses during the presidency of Yahya Jammeh.
Kalu, who made this known on Thursday in Abuja, during the consideration of a draft decision of the ECOWAS Commission to establish a special tribunal in the Gambia at the ongoing first extra ordinary session of the parliament.
While maintaining that, the existing laws at the time of the crimes should be applied, citing the principle of non-retrospective law, he highlighted the importance of legal precedents and international recognition.
Kalu, who acknowledged the Gambia’s internal efforts to address the issues, emphasized the need for external assistance and urged ECOWAS not to remain silent on the matter.
He warned against superficial resolutions and drew parallels with Nigeria’s ongoing challenges stemming from the Biafran war, stressing the need for genuine reconciliation and inclusion.
The lawmaker expressed support for the Gambia’s call for justice as a prerequisite for comprehensive healing and preventing future conflicts, suggesting the potential involvement of international bodies like the International Criminal Court of Justice.
He called for Africans to move beyond internal conflicts and focus on development and innovation, advocating for regional synergy to build and develop nations within the sub-region.
