A coalition of Nigerian legal experts has filed a class action suit against Peoples Republic of China over the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Nigerians. They are demanding $200 billion as damages for the “loss of lives, economic strangulation, trauma, hardship, social disorientation, mental torture and disruption of normal daily existence of people in Nigeria.”

A statement by the lead counsel, Mr Epiphany Azinge, whose firm, Azinge and Azinge, is championing the action, said they had concluded pleadings for the class action against the Chinese government.

Azinge is a former Director-General of Nigeria Institute of Legal Studies (NIALS) and a current member of Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal London, representing Nigeria and Africa.

He said: “The team of legal experts planned a two phase line of action: first is with the federal high court of Nigeria and secondly to persuade the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria to institute a state action against the Peoples Republic of China at the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

“The legal experts will be claiming damages to the tune of $200 billion. The Chinese Government will be served through its Embassy in Nigeria.”

This Day