WRC says it lacks power to investigate race discrimination complaint against AIb

A WRC adjudication officer said the commission had no statutory power to investigate Hamza Malang’s complaint against AIb alleging race discrimination after he was denied the chance to open a bank account. The decision was dated 14 June 2024; the merits were not decided. The adjudicator said Malang had not notified AIb before filing his complaint and had not met the statutory time requirements. He was given three weeks to provide grounds for missing the deadlines but did not do so. The complaint was brought under the Equal Status Act 2000, which sets rules for notifying a respondent and referring a complaint.