The NEWS (Monrovia)
November 10, 2003
Posted to the web November 11, 2003
Monrovia
The Nigerian Government has reportedly increased security around the residence of the former Liberian President Charles Taylor at Calabar, Nigeria.
The Nigerian Government increased security around the home of Mr. Taylor last week following reports that the United States has offered US$2 million for anyone that would yank him away from his exile home at Calabar.
Nigeria sharply reacted to the pronouncement by the U.S. Government offering US$2 million for Mr. Taylor's arrest and accused it of 'state sponsor terrorism'.
The Nigerian Government said it would not be coerced by anyone to give the former President out, and vowed that it would continue to protect Mr. Taylor until a regional decision is taken.
However, the U.S. Government maintained that it wants Mr. Taylor to face War Crimes charges in neighboring Sierra Leone for arming rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) to carry out may against thousands of civilians during the ten year old civil war.
During the crisis in Sierra Leone, the limps of babies, women and elderly people were chopped by rebels of the RUF, who Mr. Taylor is alleged to have armed.
An expert on African affairs told the BBC from Washington that it is an outrageous affront to Nigeria's sovereignty about Taylor's arrest and a callous disregard to west Africa cooperation.
He said the United States had the opportunity to arrest Mr. Taylor in Liberia if they were really sincere about it, but, "they didn't," he argued.
According to the expert, the Americans had three war ships off the cost of Monrovia and could have arrested him if they wanted to.
He said if the United States really wants Mr. Taylor extradited, the process of his extradition should be worked out diplomatically with the involvement of regional countries.
Mr. Taylor, who is wanted in Sierra Leone for having allegedly committed crimes against humanity, went to exile in Nigeria on August 11, as part of a regional peace agreement on Liberia.
Last week, lawyers defending Mr. Taylor presented arguments before a Panel of Judges at the United Nations-back court about immunity and other issues concerning his indictment.
Justice Geoffrey Robertson, President of the Special Court, announced the adjournment of the preliminary hearings last Friday, saying that ruling into the motions presented by Taylor's lawyers would be delivered in two weeks.
In their motion, Taylor's Counsels challenged the legality of the court, saying that it lacked jurisdiction to try him.