Venezuela crisis: International law shields the powerful, fails the weak – Shehu Sani

Former senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has argued that international law is selectively applied, insisting it favours powerful nations while offering little protection to weaker and poorer countries.

Sani made the assertion in a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, saying global legal frameworks are effectively enforced only against states without nuclear capability.

According to him, superpowers and their allies operate above the law, invading sovereign nations, occupying territories and undermining international judicial institutions without consequences.

He lamented that judges of international courts are often threatened, while violations of sovereignty by powerful countries are carried out with impunity.

Sani’s remarks followed reports of a United States military operation in Venezuela, during which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were reportedly captured and taken out of the country.

“International law is made for poor or weak countries; it is law for those without nuclear weapons,” Sani wrote. “Superpowers and their cronies are insulated from international law.”

He added that the current global order exposes the imbalance of power in international relations, where might often overrides justice and legal norms.