Human Rights Class Action against Corporations in Nigeria

Abstract

Though Nigeria is inundated with human rights abuses, there is no procedure that could effectively accommodate a large number of victims in one litigation beside class action. Class litigation is limited in scope in Nigeria; hence, it cannot be applied in human rights cases. This has culminated in a culture of impunity by corporations in the country. This paper uses the class action legal regime in the United States to argue that the statutory introduction of a general class litigation regime will adequately address human rights violations in Nigeria. The author submits that beyond the legislative introduction of a general class action legal framework in Nigeria; judges should exercise their wide discretion as envisaged by the Nigerian constitution in civil matters to adjudicate human rights class litigations. Also, there is need to enlighten Nigerians of their human rights and an efficient procedure to address their violations: class action procedure.