Kano — The ongoing criminal and civil cases against drugs giant, Pfizer instituted by the Kano 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.

The commissioner who dismissed allegations that victims and their parents are not involved, said the state sharia council, other stakeholders and all victims have been informed about the ongoing discussions.

Earlier in the court during the civil case, both lawyers for the state and the federal government and that of Pfizer led by Mr Babatunde Irentuase and Pfizer's Mr Anthony Idighe, argued over the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and later agreed for an adjournment of the case to enable for an amendment by the counsel to the Kano state government on the case.

At the hearing of the criminal case, the court ordered the state commissioner of police to serve the summons of the court on all defendants in the case whether in Nigeria or abroad after the Attorney General, Mr Ibrahim Umar, raised concern over inability to serve some of the defendants the summons to appear before the court.

The criminal case was then adjourned to 6th November for continuation while the civil case was also earlier adjourned to 5th of December.

In 1996, Pfizer ran tests for the drug Trovan, on 100 children during a meningitis epidemic. 12 children died in the epidemic over six months. During the test 100 other children were given a low dose of a competing anti-biotic, it was reported. Of the 100 children given Trovan children 12 died and dozens were made deaf, blind or became insane.