http://www.tribune.com.ng/26072007/news/news7.html

We’ve not withdrawn suit against Pfizer - FG

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 26.07.2007

The Federal Government has not withdrawn its suit against Pfizer and has charged the company and eight others with deliberate application of a killer drug known as “Trovafloxacin” on 200 Nigerian children, leading to the death of many of them.

Those listed for prosecution include Pfizer Incorporated, Pfizer Nigeria, Isa Dutse, Scott Hopkins, Debra Williams, Mike Dunne, Samuel Ohuabunwa, Robert Buhl and William Steere.

Security agents have also been directed to get the accused persons for arraignment on October 29.

The charge was filed in the registry of the Federal High Court, Abuja, where their trial was mentioned on Wednesday before Justice Anwuri Chikere.

In the criminal case no FHC/ABJ/CR/ 47/07 brought against them, the accused persons were also said to have engaged in bribing and forging of documents to cover up the crime, as well as engaging in illegal importation of the said killer drug.

In a 23-count charge dated May 3, 2007 and signed by Mahammad Saidu Diri on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the prosecution said the crimes were committed on April 3, 1996, when some personnel of the company used an outbreak of meningitis in Kano to conduct an unlawful clinical trial of the drug on infected children, leading to adverse reactions.

Specifically, Pfizer Incorporated, Scott Hopkins and Isa Dutse were accused of offering on June 30, 1996, one Dr. Isa Dutse of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, $20,000, to procure a forged and back-dated letter of approval for the clinical trial conducted in April 1996.

The importation of the drug, its possession and application, are also said to have been in disregard of extant laws governing such activities in Nigeria, offences which are contrary to certain provisions of the National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List Act Cap N29 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004."