Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged Nigeria and Ghana to institute legal action against South Africa at the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights over alleged xenophobic attacks and forced displacement of African migrants in the country.
Falana, in a statement, faulted the decision by Nigeria and Ghana to report South Africa to the African Union (AU), describing the move as “diversionary and time wasting,” arguing that the continental body lacks the legal authority to compel the South African government to compensate victims of xenophobic attacks.
Thousands of Nigerian migrants were recently forced to leave South Africa following renewed attacks by groups of youths targeting African migrants. The Nigerian government had earlier announced plans to seek compensation from South Africa for citizens who lost businesses, properties and investments after fleeing the attacks.
South Africa’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, had said discussions on compensation would take place between both governments at the highest levels. Following this, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed that authorities had commenced documentation of businesses and properties abandoned by affected Nigerians.
