The theme of the training workshop is "Understanding the Rome Statute and Operation of the International Criminal Court in order to Enhance the Efficiency of Security Operations".
Speaking at the opening of the training workshop, the Special Guest of Honour, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Taoreed Lagbaja ably represented by Deputy Chief of Operations, (Army), Maj Gen Emmanuel Emekah enjoined participants to utilize this opportunity to enlarge their knowledge on the Rome Statute and the operation of the ICC.
According to him, the conduct of war and security operations is regulated by International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.
The COAS commended the Director Legal Services for initiating additional steps to meet contemporary expectations of the army and the larger Nigeria society.
"The Nigerian Army, as a responsible organisation, takes deliberate and systematic steps to ensure compliance with these rules, regulations, and laws in the conduct of its operations.
"Currently, the ombudsman for the enforcement of these rules is the ICC, which the Nigerian security forces have had and may still have occasions to interact with.
"It is thus of utmost necessity that Nigerian army personnel and personnel of sister services of the armed forces, as well as other relevant security agencies, ministries, and departments, acquire ample knowledge of the operations of the ICC to effectively guide our forces in the execution of their difficult duties," he said.
The COAS commended the performance of all officers and soldiers on the recent successes in Nigerian military justice system as reflected in a recent General Court Martial sitting, which he added, had been applauded by many Nigerians.
He said the need to identify gaps in the nation's force structure, training, and strategic approaches to military justice and operational readiness toward combating the challenges, was more imperative now than ever.
According to him, the diverse nature of the contemporary issues require unity of efforts and multi-agency involvement.
"We must, therefore, work towards cross-sectional synergy and the conceptualisation of ideas on the execution of our missions within a joint environment," he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Director Legal Services, Maj. Gen Seidu Musa said the training workshop is to enable the acquisition of requisite knowledge on the background to the Rome Statute and the establishment of ICC, the contents of the Statute, ICC Rules of Procedure, modusoperandi of the ICC, the inter-operability of the Rome Statute and Nigerian municipal criminal laws and procedure and evidence as well as the entire gamut of knowledge required for expertise in this spectrum of law.
"It is an aphorism that knowledge is power. Such training will empower the NA officers and othe00r trainees with the knowledge to interface authoritatively with the ICC and carry out other ancillary tasks from a position of enhance competence and skill based on superior knowledge.
"In view of this reality, HQ DLS(A) had held discussions with the Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS) to partner with her for specialized training on the ICC laws and procedures NIALS acceded to our request." He noted
Maj.General Musa noted that this is to enable knowledge based authoritative interface with the ICC when the need arises in the course of performing their duties. In line with the COAS Command philosophy to "Transform the NA into a well Trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities with a Joint Environment", the NA has extended this training to the Sister Services of the Armed Forces and other Security Agencies as well as Ministries, Departments
He noted that at the end of this training a compendium of lectures delivered will be published by NIALS in collaboration withthe DLS (A). The journal will be given the widest possible circulation with the aim of ensuring that interested persons who are not privilege to here will have the opportunity of participating in the intellectual discourse.
This is to facilitate maximum in by all stakeholders in order to promote synergy, collaboration and jointness which form the fulcrum of the COAS Command Philosophy.
He stressed that military Lawyers and Investigators from the NA, NN, NAF, other Security Agencies, relevant stakeholders from Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Academia are all present in this training.
SpyeTV News report that at the end of this training a compendium of lectures delivered will be published by NIALS in collaboration with the DLS (A). The journal will be given the widest possible circulation with the aim of ensuring that interested persons who are not privilege to here will have the opportunity of participating in the intellectual discourse.
The ICC was established by the Rome Statute in 1998 and came into effect in 2002. Nigerian became party to the Rome Statute after ratification by the National Assembly. On 18 November 2010, the Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) announced a preliminary investigation into the situation in Nigeria.
In December 2020, the OTP cnnounced that it had decided to close the preliminary investigation on the basis that there is sufficient reason to conclude that both BokoHaram and the Nigerian Security Forces (NSF) especially the Nigerian Army (NA) have committed crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Prosecutor now needs to submit a request to ICC judges who will decide whether or not the Prosecutor will proceed with the opening of a formal investigation.
Recently, the NA representative was part of the Federal Government delegation led by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to the 22nd Session of the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute Meetin
During the Session, the AGF reiterated the Federal Government position regarding the ICC allegations. Prior to this time, the AFN especially the NA has responded to some of these allegations to the best of its ability.
Suffice to state that the ICC and its enabling law, the Rome Statute are relatively novel. There is therefore the need for specialized training on its laws and procedures to make this knowledge preponderant. 
