French banking giant BNP Paribas said on Thursday that a judge's decision to certify an October verdict in a Sudan-related litigation clears the path for the bank to pursue an appeal.

A US jury in October found the French bank helped Sudan's government commit genocide by providing banking services that violated American sanctions.

The court ordered the euro zone's biggest lender by assets to pay $20.5 million to three Sudanese plaintiffs who testified about human rights abuses under former President Omar al-Bashir's rule.

The bank said it would seek to have the case dismissed on appeal, arguing the trial applied Swiss law incorrectly.