The Chinese Embassy in Abuja Blasts Nigerian COVID-19 Lawsuit as “Shoddy” and “Frivolous”

The Chinese embassy in Nigeria on Wednesday forcefully reasserted its objections to a $200 billion lawsuit against China for reparations for COVID-19 filed by a group of Nigerian lawyers in the High Court. “The attempt to file frivolous lawsuits is a shoddy one, as it has zero basis in fact, law or international precedence,” said the embassy in a statement posted on Twitter.

The lawyers initially filed their suit back in April when it was predictably dismissed by the embassy and legal observers, who pointed out that individuals cannot sue foreign governments in a Nigerian court. “You cannot sue the Chinese government before a Nigerian court and expect the jurisdiction to be binding on them,” explained human rights lawyer Tope Akiinod.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
5
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity
6
Indonesia Begins $5.9 Billion Chinese EV Battery Project Despite Environment Fears

You Might Like

Nigeria’s President Buhari Responds to Debt Critics: “We Just Have to Take Loans to do Rail, Roads and Power”

President Muhammadu Buhari finally weighed on the debate currently raging in Nigeria over the government’s decision to borrow billions of dollars, including from China, to build badly-needed infrastructure. “We have so many challenges ...

There’s Growing Concern in the U.S. That Debt Relief for Africa and Other Developing Regions Would Just Help China

There is mounting concern in the United States that calls for debt relief from Africa and other developing regions that have been hit hard by COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis will only ...

African Countries Sign on To Global Inquiry Into COVID-19 Origin

All African countries under the banner “The African Group and its Members States” are now part of a group of 110 countries who signed a World Health Organization draft resolution on Monday that ...

Just a Month Ago China Was Blamed for Anti-Black Discrimination, Now Beijing Rallies Behind Africa to Protest Against Racism in the U.S.

The Chinese government is steadily escalating its criticism of the United States over the ongoing protests against police brutality that are now taking place in dozens of cities across the U.S. While Chinese ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP