Posted by By Habib Yakoob on
THE United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, yesterday said the two countries were still involved in high level talks on how to bring the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor to Justice.
ABUJA - THE United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, yesterday said the two countries were still involved in high level talks on how to bring the former Liberian President, Charles Taylor to Justice.
Campbell, at a press briefing in Abuja, said the US was serious that the former president be brought to face alleged war crimes offences .
He said US has been very diplomatic about the issue because it was careful not to hurt its long term relationship with Nigeria.
'US still believes that Taylor must be brought to justice to answer for crimes he is being accused of having committed.
'We know that Nigeria played an extraordinary role in ending the bloodshed in Liberia, which included the acceptance of Taylor into Nigeria at the request of West African Community.'Now we have an on-going dialogue with Nigeria as to how Taylor can be brought to justice," said Campbell.
Charles Taylor has been in exile in Nigeria since November 2003. The US has tried variously to influence his extradition. This included passing a reward offer of two million dollars for Taylor's capture. Nigeria has constantly maintained it would not release him until it was convinced there was reasonable ground for that.
Campbell, who maintained the US was not relenting on its determination to make Taylor face justice, said he was hopeful, this would be achieved.