Judge who pulled out of Uhuru's ICC case promoted
The judge pulled out the case against President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP Ruto in 2014.
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Mr Osuji, who in 2008 presided over post-election violence cases against Deputy President William Ruto and former radio journalist Joshua Sang, will now take over from Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi. The term of his predecessor has ended.
In the statement disseminated to the press, ICC judges elected a new leadership during a plenary on Sunday.
The elections also saw Kenyan Judge Joyce Aluoch bow out as vice president after serving in the capacity since 2015.
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Mr Osuji pulled out of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s post-election violence case in 2014. The ICC Court, at the time, however, did not give any reason for the move, only saying that the judge had requested not to be part of the case.
The court would later pick judge Geoffrey A. Henderson to replace him when the case commenced.
“As of 1 February 2014, judge Geoffrey A. Henderson will replace judge Chile Eboe-Osuji on the bench,” said a statement from the court.
“Am honoured”
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In his acceptance speech, judge Osuji pledged to enhance cooperation among The Hague-based court’s stakeholders in order to strengthen it.
“I am deeply honored to have been elected by my peers as president of the International Criminal Court. I look forward to working together with (the new leadership) as well as with all the judges, all the officials and the staff of the court in a spirit of collegiality,” said Mr Osuji.
He added: “I also look forward to collaborating with the Assembly of States Parties, civil society and the international community at large, acting together to strengthen and reinforce the Rome Statute system.”
Mr Osuji’s new functions would include overseeing the court’s registry and conducting judicial review of certain decisions of the registrar, besides implementing the court’s cooperation agreements with states and international organisations.
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