Domestic Redress Mechanisms for Serious Crimes, the International Criminal Court and a Nation’s Cry for Help

Abstract

This paper examines the lacuna created by a nation's unwillingness or inability to prosecute its own crimes and the International Criminal Court’s perceived reluctance to intervene when domestic justice fails. Using the case of Nigeria, it addresses the misconception that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is the expected messiah who can bring reprieve and respite to the victims of serious crimes of international concern. The study clarifies the principle of complementarity in the Nigerian context and argues that the gap created by the failure of domestic redress mechanisms, and ICC’s inaction can only be filled by urgent local action by the requisite political and legal actors. The paper concludes that strengthening Nigeria’s domestic justice system is crucial to minimizing the need for the ICC's intervention and ensuring credible justice for victims.