US urges ICC withdrawal, mocks Maduro probe after prosecutor ousted

On July 27, 2026, the United States urged ICC member states to quit the court, calling it "corrupt and worthless" after Venezuela announced its withdrawal, citing bias and legal warfare. The US statement followed an ICC emergency session that removed prosecutor Karim Khan under article 46 of the Rome Statute for serious misconduct. Washington mocked the court for investigating Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro since 2018 with no result, saying he now faces justice in the US for crimes he committed. The ICC, created by the 1998 Rome Statute (effective 2002), has handled dozens of cases and investigations, with most defendants still at large. For Nigeria, an ICC member, US pressure raises doubts about the Court’s legitimacy and could affect Abuja’s cooperation on inquiries into alleged crimes by Boko Haram and security forces. If diplomatic pressure pushes Nigeria to rethink its ICC ties, victims may lose an external path to accountability. Watch for statements from Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry and the ICC on any cooperation shifts, and consider what alternative mechanisms might deliver justice if the Court’s authority weakens.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/27/us-presses-countries-to-quit-icc-mocks-maduro-probe/