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China reacts to $200bn suit filed by Nigerian lawyers over adverse effect of COVID-19

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The Chinese government has reacted to a $200 billion class action suit filed by a group of Nigerian lawyers for not being transparent enough on the novel COVID-19 disease and the adverse effect of the pandemic on Nigerians.

Press Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, Sun Saixong, in a statement on Thursday called for international solidarity, not “resort to mutual accusation or demand retribution and accountability” over the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.

Saixong in the statement also said that the Chinese government pledged to stand with Nigeria in the global fight against COVID-19.

The statement added that; “our people are joining hands to overcome the current difficulties.

“The virus is a common enemy to all mankind and may strike anytime, anywhere.

READ ALSO: 204 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed; Nigeria’s total now 1932

“Like other countries, China is also a victim, not a perpetrator, even less an accomplice of COVID-19.”

The statement also noted that; “since the outbreak of COVID-19, in an open, transparent and responsible spirit, China has taken the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to contain its spread and conduct international cooperation.

“In this process accumulated valuable experience and made global contribution to the global response,” it added.

The suit was filed by a group of Nigerian lawyers who 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”.

The group of lawyers also informed in a statement on Sunday by its lead counsel, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) that they have concluded pleadings for the class action against the Chinese government.

Azinge, a former Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) and a current member of the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal London, representing Nigeria and Africa, also disclosed that they’ve planned a two phase line of action.

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