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Corruption cases often exemplify transnational justice because illicit funds flow globally via banks, real estate, and shell companies, enabling foreign courts to assert jurisdiction based on territorial links (e.g., money laundering in their financial systems).
The ICC established in 2002 under the Rome Statute to end impunity for genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression, the ICC operates on complementarity, acting only when national courts are unwilling or genuinely unable to prosecute. Critics argue it disproportionately targets African leaders and situations, functioning as a neo-colonial instrument that polices the Global South while granting de facto immunity to powerful states.
The slogan gained prominence in the aftermath of the Birmingham pub bombings and the subsequent conviction of six Irish men the now infamous Birmingham Six. Their case quickly became a lightning rod for allegations of coerced confessions, police misconduct, and a justice system more interested in closure than correctness.
There are some moments in political history that survive long after the politicians involved have left office. Not because of a great speech. Not because of a great policy. But because somebody asked a very simple question and refused to let it escape through the nearest political fire exit.
The intersection of law and politics in Nigeria is profound and longstanding. Lawyers have disproportionately shaped the country’s political landscape, from pre-independence nationalism to post-1999 democratic governance. Legal training emphasizing advocacy, constitutional interpretation, negotiation, evidence-based reasoning, and oratory equips practitioners exceptionally well for political roles. This pattern reflects both the profession’s prestige and Nigeria’s constitutional emphasis on legal expertise in governance.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 