THE organisation responsible for refugees in Scotland has been accused of discriminating against people of black African origin.

THE organisation responsible for refugees in Scotland has been accused of discriminating against people of black African origin.

The accusation was made by Sowaribi Tolofari who has brought claims of race and age discrimination against the Scottish Refugee Council.

Speaking at an Employment Tribunal in Glasgow, Mr Tolofari, who is from Nigeria but lives in Glasgow, claimed his application for a job as a caseworker with the SRC was dismissed because he is a middle-aged black African.

The tribunal heard that Mr Tolofari's application was "disregarded" because he had failed to write the job reference number on the front of the form. But Mr Tolofari, 50, told the Tribunal he had used the reference number throughout the application.

He added: "They must have deselected me because I am a middle-aged black African male."

In evidence, the SRC produced an equal opportunities monitoring form showing that one of the successful candidates was a black African female refugee.

Mr Tolofari is claiming an award of £23,600 to cover what would have been a year's salary plus £45,000 for "emotional aggravation and hurt".

The Scottish Refugee Council denies the claims. The Tribunal will issue its judgment later.