Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state may be facing investigation on crimes against humanity if the International Criminal Court (ICC) acknowledgement of petition by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) against him is anything to go by.

ICC had acknowledged the petition by the IMN requesting for an investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Governor El-Rufa’i, according to a statement signed by Fatima Aliyu Adam on behalf of the Islamic group in Abuja, Saturday.

“The public could remember that from 2015 to date, Nasiru El-Rufai has been ordering attacks and killings of adherents of the Islamic Movement under the leadership of his eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H).

“For instance, in March 2023, Nasiru El-Rufai ordered the extrajudicial killing of adherents of the Islamic movement at Bakin Ruwa, Kaduna, and security men in his convoy opened fire on our people in the presence of Nasiru El-Rufai.

“Instantly, five people were killed, and several others were severely wounded. Recently, in this month of May 2023, Nasiru El-Rufa’I unlawfully ordered the demolishing of properties belonging to his eminence, Sheikh Ibraheem Ya’qoub El-Zakzaky (H),” she alleged.

According to Adam, in a letter dated April 17, 2023, written by Mark P. Dillon, Head of Information and Evidence Unit, Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and addressed to our lawyer, B. I. Dakum, it stated that “the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court acknowledges receipt of your documents/letter.”

She said the ICC letter added that “this communication has been duly entered in the Communications Register of the Office.

“We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

Adam added that the communication also stated that, “as soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you in writing and provide you with reasons for this decision.”