Daily Trust (Abuja)
15 November 2007
The families of children the government said were killed or maimed in a drug
test 11 years ago want the case to be settled out of court, a representative
said Tuesday.
Alhaji Mustapha Garba Maisikeli, chairman of the 30 families taking part in the civil and criminal cases against drug giant Pfizer said they had discovered plans to "sabotage" the possibility of an out-of-court settlement.
He said non governmental and civil society organisations should stay clear of the court case. The government is seeking $7 billion in damages. The state of Kano is suing in the civil courts for $2 billion.
The government said the drug test in 1996 caused irreparable damage to the health system. 11 children died and around 50 were left disabled after the test which was done during a meningitis outbreak. It also said the drug Trovan caused the deaths. Pfizer on the other hand said meningitis killed and maimed the children and their drug saves children's lives.
Alh. Maisikeli said: 'The whole idea of going to court is to seek redress and justice, we therefore believe that all reasonable options should be left open towards the attainment of these goals".
Maisikeli said the victims believed that discussions on out of the court settlement would not undermine the court cases or negate the attainment of justice, particularly for the victims and Nigerians at large.
"We have been fighting for justice for the past eleven years and have largely been ignored and forgotten for all these years, we therefore wonder why these NGOs are showing interest now", he said.
The chairman also added that although the victims appreciate the concern shown by these groups, he asked them to desist from making statements that are at variance with the stand of the victims.
'We the legitimate victims of Pfizer's Trovan test wish to categorically state that pronouncements from any group or person on the test henceforth has no blessings from us, we therefore disassociate ourselves from them', he added.
The victims also dismissed as baseless, the rumour that the Kano State government has been acting alone in the fight to ensure justice for the victims of the drug test. They commended the concern and determination of Governor Ibrahim Shekarau to ensure that justice is done to the families of the victims.
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