Xenophobic Attacks: Civil Society Groups in Nigeria Demand Legal Actions against SA Govt and Perpetrators

Civil society groups and trade unions called on the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to commence legal proceeding against the South Africa Government and the key actors and perpetrators of xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

 

At different locations across in Nigeria, they are united in the agitation for legal action against South Africa. Leading the call is the Nigerian Senate, the Upper Legislative House in Nigeria. The Senate in a unanimous adoption of the motion which was well attended and discussed asked the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall for briefing and consultations Nigerian High Commissioner in Pretoria, South Africa.

 

The House equally passed a motion urging the government of Nigeria to take legal action against the Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithinni at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Nigerian Upper Legislative House condemned in strong terms the statement credited to the king asking the foreigner in South Africa to home which instigated South Africans to take arms against the black immigrants residing in the country.

In a swift reaction to the motion and directive of the Senate, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled Ambassador Y.Y. Yusuf from Pretoria for briefing and to provide guidelines on the possible line of action to take to seek justice for the affected Nigerians in that country likewise the South African High Commissioner to Ambassador, Lulu Mnguni was also summoned to Aso Rock for talks by the Presidency and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Organised labour in Nigeria led by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is not left out of the protest and had similarly expressed its profound disappointment in the manner in which the SA Government has been handling the xenophobic issue in South Africa and had for this reason concluded that the South African Government should be held responsible for the wave of violent attacks that has claimed many lives in the country. 

The congress condemned in strongest terms the stand and wash policing style of the South African authorities. The group said it is sad to note that the police could be standing by and watch African Immigrants killed without raising their guns to protect the hapless Africans.

The organised labour argued that if the perpetrators of the last act xenophobic attacks that claimed more sixty lives (60) were brought to justice or faced the music it would have serve as a deterrent to others.

NLC concluded that if the xenophobic attacks were not state sponsored, President Jacob Zuma would have done more to protect vulnerable Africans rather than encouraging his fellow citizens to go ahead with xenophobic attacks based on his body language to them.    

As a result of this, the congress stated that the South African Government should be drag to Hague for proper legal action so as to deter others from taking laws into their hands again in that country. 

NLC Joe Ajero while presenting a protest letter to representative of the South African High Commission in Abuja recalled that Africa and Nigeria fought for the total liberation of South Africa from apartheid.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and constitutional lawyer, Felix Agbakoba who was one time President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) toed the line of NLC reasoning and opined that the South African Government has been treating the xenophobic issue with kid gloves thus encouraging the perpetrators and her citizenry to continue with the reckless behaviours, senseless, unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on Black Immigrants in that country.

Similarly, a highly respected and vociferous non-organisation in the country, Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Federal Government of Nigeria to drag the South African Government to the African Commission over the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals and their business interests in South Africa.

According to the Executive Director of SERAP, Tokunbo Mumini in a statement on Monday , April 20, 2015 asked President Goodluck Jonathan to press legal charges against the  South African Government over human and people’s rights abuse as well as comprehensive compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attacks in South African.

“This wave of violence is unacceptable as it clearly violates the obligations of South Africa under the Charter on Human and People’s Rights. These serious human rights abuses call for strong and decisive action from our government” Mumini said.