US Urges Nigeria to Leave ICC Amid Sovereignty Concerns, No FG Response Yet

The United States urged Nigeria and other African ICC signatories to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, calling the tribunal a "flawed institution" that undermines national sovereignty. The call came in an X post by the US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs after Chad announced its withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The US urged all parties to reconsider their ICC membership, while noting that Nigeria remains a party and has not issued any official response to the appeal.

This matters because Nigeria’s ICC membership means its officials and security forces could be investigated for alleged crimes, such as those alleged during the 2020 EndSARS protests, which the ICC monitored in 2020. The US pressure reflects a broader push by some African states—Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger—to leave the court, raising questions about Nigeria’s stance on international accountability versus sovereignty claims.

What should you know? As of now, the Federal Government has not signaled any intention to leave the ICC, so Nigeria’s current obligations stand. Keep an eye on official statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Presidency for any shift in policy. Consider what an ICC withdrawal would mean for accountability mechanisms and Nigeria’s international standing.

SOURCE: https://nairametrics.com/2026/07/28/u-s-urges-nigeria-other-countries-to-quit-icc-after-chads-exit/