Nigeria’s Senate Wants BIA Rescinded; Declares BIA Null and Void

August 17, 2005 -- After putting pressure on President Olusegun Obasanjo to rescind Nigeria’s Bilateral Immunity Agreement (BIA) with the US, the Nigerian Senate passed a resolution yesterday declaring the BIA null and void. Signed in June 2003, the BIA states that Nigeria will not surrender any American servicemember, national, or foreign national working for the American government to the International Criminal Court (ICC) without the U.S.’s consent.

The Senate reasoned that because the National Assembly was not consulted when the BIA was signed, it was in contradiction to Section 12 of the Nigerian constitution and therefore null and void.
Now that Nigeria no longer has a standing BIA with the U.S. it stands to lose $5 million in Economic Support Funds (ESF). Nigeria is not alone—Kenya and South Africa are facing increasing U.S. pressure to sign a BIA and also face aid cuts if they do not comply.

Updated August 22, 2005

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