Alleged $200b suit: China ‘not behind global virus spread’

From Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Abuja 

China neither created nor deliberately spread Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) across the world, its Embassy in Nigeria clarified on Thursday.

The clarification, contained in a statement in Abuja through the Office of Press Secretary of the Embassy of China in Nigeria, followed threats of a $200 billion law suit.

The embassy said China, like any other country, is victim of the disease and not the perpetrator.

It cautioned Nigerian lawyers against being used by an unnamed country to institute legal action that may cause a strain in the relationship between China and Nigeria.

A few days ago, a law firm, Messrs. Azinge and Azinge, said it will team up with local and international legal experts to sue China for $200 billion damages over COVID-19.

It said the action will ask China to account for alleged loss of lives, economic strangulation, trauma and disruption of daily existence of the Nigerian people as a result of COVID disease, which spread from Wuhan, in China, to other parts of the world.

Read Also: ‘Let Coronavirus not put China, Nigeria asunder’

The lead counsel, Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN), said the legal experts have planned a two-phase line of action, including an application at the Federal High Court and persuading the Federal Government to institute a state action against China at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

But, the Chinese Government said it was never an accomplice of COVlD-l9.

The statement said: “Some Nigerian media reported that a coalition of Nigerian legal practitioners has filed a class action against the People‘s Republic of China over the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on Nigerians.

“Since the outbreak of COVlD-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, China has made tremendous sacrifices accumulated valuable experience and made significant contributions to the global response. The international community bears witness to and applauds China’s efforts and progress.”

The embassy described coronavirus as a common enemy and it asked the international community to stand in solidarity to contain it.

It added: “The virus is a common enemy to all mankind and may strike anytime, anywhere. Like other countries, China is also a victim, not a perpetrator, even less an accomplice of COVlD-l9.

“In the face of major public health crises and infectious diseases, the international community should stand in solidarity and work together not resort to mutual accusation or demand retribution and accountability. As we recall, there has never been any precedence of the latter.

“Currently, China is standing together with Nigeria in the global fight against Covid-l9. Our people are joining hands to overcome the current difficulties.

“Attacking and discrediting other countries from other countries will not save the time and lives lost.

“At this critical moment, we urge that some Nigerian legal practitioners will do more things to enhance mutual trust and help epidemic prevention and control in both countries, rather than dancing to the tune of a certain country to hype up the situation.”