Ex Ivory Coast president, Gbagbo begins move for immediate relase at ICC

The detained former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo, has started a move to have his case before the International Criminal Court (ICC) thrown out.

According to reports, Gbagbo will be asking the court to acquit him on the four count charge he is facing bothering on crimes against humanity.

Gbagbo, 73, has been in detention for seven years. He was handed over to the ICC in 2016, after he was arrested for refusing to stand down when he lost election.

His refusal to leave power and handover to the winner of the disputed election, plunged the West African country into crisis that led to the death of many.

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His lawyers are of the opinion that the prosecution has been unable to prove the charges brought against him after two years of trial and are now demanding a “full dismissal, an acquittal on all charges” and Gbagbo’s immediate release.

“We are confident that president Laurent Gbagbo will be acquitted, released and will be able to return to his country,” said Justin Koua, the youth chairman of a coalition of political parties including Gbagbo’s own Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) as well as civil society groups.

“Mr Gbagbo is suffering an injustice,” he said.

The lawyers are asking for the same thing for Gbagbo’s right-hand man Charles Ble Goude, 46, leader of the “Young Patriots” group which allegedly murdered and raped hundreds of people in order to keep Gbagbo in charge.

 

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