Dark Side
The Constant Gardener Returns
By Edwin Olofu, Next 4/3/10
Mar 4, 2010 - 11:19:02 AM

Fourteen years after they began to seek compensation for their losses, victims of a Pfizer test conducted in Kano have threatened to return to court, alleging that there is an unnecessary delay in the execution of the out-of-court settlement with the pharmaceutical company in which each victim could get about N26 million.

Last year, when the out-of-court deal was struck between Pfizer and the victims, represented by the Kano State government, it was agreed that Pfizer would provide $75 million to be used in the following way: $30 million for the construction of a hospital within the Kano metropolis; $35 million for the payment of compensation to the victims of the test and $10 million to offset the cost of litigation incurred by the state government.

However, the victims, under aegis of the Trovan Victim's Forum, accused members of the Bashir Wali-led compensation board of employing diversionary tactics in handling the compensation exercise.

The spokesperson of the victims, Kabiru Saidu, on Wednesday, said the officials have embarked on a spending spree by buying cars and other luxuries with the victims' share of the Pfizer money.

"The board members have introduce snail tactics to the projects, as it appears their interest is more in the Meningitis fund than the healthcare projects assigned to them," Mr Saudi said.

"If this continues, we will go back to court."

Board denies allegation

The chairperson of the board on Meningitis Trust Fund, Bashir Wali denied that the board has misappropriated funds meant for compensating the victims.

"As a judge of several decades standing, I will not indulge in any act that could impugn on my integrity," he said.

"Our board has not collected any money nor spent any amount offered as compensation to the victims by Pfizer."

He said that about $4.5 million has been released to members of his board to put up a functional secretariat.

The retired Supreme Court judge further stated that the amount was released from the $30 million set aside by Pfizer for the construction of the specialist hospital in Kano.

"The amount was released by the Shehu Galadanci-led Hospital Project Trust Fund, and not from the $35 million set aside to compensate victims of the Trovan test," he said.

He said the compensation money has not been paid to his board.

"Not a single kobo of the entire package has been paid to members of my board of trustees since it was inaugurated last year," Mr. Wali said.

Ready for test

The board's chairperson also said claimants not ready to subject themselves to a DNA test will not benefit from the compensation.

He disclosed that so far, about 200 claimants, who are billed to participate in the DNA test, to be conducted by an American pharmaceutical firm, Bodde, in April, have been identified.

He urged claimants to exercise patience, saying the DNA exercise is a strenuous one.

Mr. Wali, however, said he hopes that before the end of September this year, issues relating to the compensation of victims would have been resolved.