Thursday, October 04, 2007

Are Pfizer reaching for the checkbook?

The ongoing criminal and civil cases against drugs giant, Pfizer instituted by the Kano, Nigeria state and the federal government might be settled out of court after both parties met in Abuja recently to discuss the possibility.

Yesterday, the legal battle was adjourned in a Kano high court. The Kano state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ibrahim Umar, said two meetings have already been conducted between the Kano state government and Pfizer officials.

Both the civil and criminal cases were adjourned to December 5 and November 6, respectively by the Kano high courts on Wednesday. Shortly after, the commissioner said the discussions will not interfere with the court process for now.

He said: "It is true that we are talking with Pfizer on the possibility of an out of court settlement and we have met twice in Abuja and not in London and Washington as is being speculated some quarters."

Barrister Ibrahim Umar also said that the central focus of the settlement was in the best interest of the victims whom the government say were maimed, killed or deformed by the negligent actions of the drug company, in 1996.

He said the next discussions over the out of court settlement was scheduled for the 17th of this month, adding that one of the fathers of the victim, Malam Maikudi Garba, is among the parties involved in the discussions.

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