Gombe files N591 billion suit against tobacco companies
From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
THE Gombe State government has dragged five tobacco companies before the Gombe State High Court on charges that they have been targeting minors with their products in the state in the last 20 years with a view to making them addicts.
In the suit before a high court judge, Abdul Hamed Yusuf, the state government is demanding N591 billion from British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Ltd, International Tobacco Limited, British America Tobacco Plc, British America Tobacco (Investment) Ltd, and Philip Morris International.
It is one of several class action suits filed by some states and the Federal Government against tobacco companies operating in the country.
Gombe is asking for N10.1 billion as special damages for negligence, N521 billion as anticipatory damages for future expenses, N50 billion as punitive damage for wrongful conducts and N10 billion as restitution and disgorgement of profit for unjust enrichment.
The case has been adjourned to July 2, 2009 to allow the plaintiff serve all the parties in the suit.
Counsel to the state government, Babatunde Irukera, had prayed the court to grant him four weeks to allow his clients conclude the process of service on all defendants.
Irukera said: "The plaintiff is diligently pursuing service to all the defendants with the help of the ministry. We would, however, pray for an additional four weeks in order to conclude service to all the parties."
The four defendants present in court raised no objections to the application. But the fourth defendant asked the court to be allowed to file a written application on preliminary objections, a request rejected by Yusuf because all the defendants have not been served and not fully represented in court.
Speaking with The Guardian at the court premises, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi of the Environmental Rights Action/Friend of the Earth Nigeria said they were in court to show support for the Gombe State government in the case.
His words: "We are very much in support of this suit. Over the years, we have seen that the tobacco industry cannot be trusted, so there is need for strict control of the manufacturing and sale of cigarettes in this country."
Also, Co-ordinator, Coalition Against Tobacco (CAT), Toyosi Onaolapo, upbraided the tobacco companies for alleged targeting young Nigerians to make cigarette addicts out of them.
