SERAP files suit over poverty figures

SOCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a request before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, urging the court to “consider the effects of corruption on the poverty level in Nigeria”.

The group in the action wants the court to consider whether rising and systemic poverty violates specific human rights under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights” as Nigeria has ratified both the African Charter and the African Court Protocol.

The organisation is also asking the court “to assess the legal and human rights consequences of poverty, including whether increased poverty breaches the right to equality and non-discrimination, right of the people to socio-economic development, and their right to natural wealth and resources”. .

The request for advisory opinion dated March 1, 2012, was signed by SERAP’s Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni and sent to Dr. Robert Eno, acting registrar of the court.