Rights activists, lawyers protest at Federal High Court

…Submit Petitions to US, South African Embassies …Demand fair treatment for Nigerians and African litigants abroad By Joseph Erunke, Abuja Human rights activists and lawyers under the banner of the Legion of Mary Social Justice Troopers on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja before marching to the embassies of the United States and South Africa, where they submitted petitions calling for what they described as fair treatment of Nigerians and other people of African descent in foreign judicial systems.

Addressing journalists during the protest, Barrister Okechukwu Okafor of Beverly Hills Chambers, one of the counsel in a matter pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja, said the demonstration was organised to draw attention to what the group views as challenges affecting access to justice for people of African descent in some foreign jurisdictions.

According to him, the protest also sought to encourage dialogue on issues relating to due process, equal treatment before the law and broader concerns about the experiences of African litigants overseas.