Xenophobia: Falana urges Nigeria, Ghana to sue S'Africa at African court

File: Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the governments of Nigeria and Ghana to institute legal proceedings against South Africa before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana argued that taking the matter to the African Union would be ineffective, insisting that only the African Court has the legal authority to order compensation and other remedies for victims.

“The decision of the Governments of Nigeria and Ghana to report South Africa to the African Union is completely diversionary and time-wasting,” Falana said.

“Both countries ought to have realised that the African Union lacks the competence to direct the Ramaphosa administration to pay compensation to the victims of xenophobic attacks.”