The China Embassy in Abuja has condemned moves by some Nigerians to file a lawsuit against China over the COVID-19 pandemic, says it’s baseless and lacks international precedence.
Speaking in a statement on their verified Twitter handle, the Embassy said that China was also a victim as the record of COVID-19 response is there for the world to see, with a clear timeline and solid facts that would stand the test of time and history.
The Embassy stated that some people were clamoring for so-called “accountability and compensation” from a victim of COVID-19 and they are fabricating so-called ”evidence” for frivolous lawsuits.
It went further to state that such people were trampling on international rule of law and betraying human conscience, adding that their action does not square with facts, stand up to reason or have any legal foundation.
It also stated that China, in its own capacity, acted responsibly from the onset to protect people’s lives and safeguard public health.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to some recent local media reporting that ‘Nigerians drag China to court and seek compensation over COVID-19 Pandemic.’
“The attempt to file frivolous lawsuits is a shoddy one, as it has no basis in fact, law or international precedence.
“The Embassy made its position on this issue very clear in a statement issued on April 30 and here wishes to reiterate it: COVID-19 has caught the whole world by surprise.
“China, like other countries, is a victim. Confronted by an unknown virus, we have acted responsibly to protect people’s lives and health and safeguard global public health.
“China was the first country to report cases to WHO and promptly shared information with relevant countries and regions, the first to sequence the genome of the virus.
“And share it with the world, and the first to publish guidelines for treatment and containment. Once we sensed the severity of the situation, we made a tough decision that cut off the route of transmission in the shortest possible time and stopped the fast-spreading virus in its tracks. All this was achieved at an enormous cost and with a huge sacrifice,” it stated.
Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere reporting, Obinwannem News
