By YAHAYA, TAIDI, Abuja

The government joined the local directors; Isa Dutse , Scott Hopkins, Debra Williams , Mike Dunne, Samuel Ohuabunwa , Robert Buhl and Willaim Steer as co-accused who allegedly conspired to obtain forged covering permit, imported, delivered and administered an "untested" dangerous drug –trovafloxacin on over 200 children.

Babatunde Irukera appeared for the Federal Government yesterday but the accused were not in court and Justice Anwuri Chikere adjourned the matter to October 29 for arraignment .

“Once you have accused people in court you have to arraign them,” Irukera said.

The accused risk various fines and or jail terms of up to seven years if convicted.

NewAge recalls that the Federal Government had last week withdrew its N890 million case against the company to file the fresh this fresh case.

While reacting to these fresh charge, Irukera however said there would not be trial unless the accused appeared in court.

In the 23 count charge signed by Muhammad Saidu Diri and leveled against Pfizer, the government said that the accused possessed the said Trovafloxacin contrary to section 516 of the criminal Code Act .

As contained in the charge cited, the accused conspired and breached Criminal Code Act, medical and dental practitioners act, Food, Drug and Related products (registration etc) and the consumer protection Act 1992 among others.

The charge also has it that Hopskin, Debra and Dunne administered the Trovafloxacin and other drugs on 200 children in 1996 contrary to section 17 of the medical and dental practitioners of the Federation.

The government said that the accused ' falsely misled over 200 children in Kano into believing the efficacy of Trovafloxacin as a cure for meningitis when " they " knew that Trovafloxacin does not cure such disease and thereby committed an offence.”

The federal government also alleged that the accused failed to comply with the requirements imposed on them to register, test and apply for approval to use the said drugs on human beings as cure.

According to the complainant, accused " proffered information to it, the affected children, their parents that the unregistered Trovan was actually registered , safe and potent in the treatment of meningitis, the information which caused injury and loss to the 200 children and the federal government of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence in contravention of section 12(b) consumer protection council act 1992" The government also told the court that the accused conspired to procure a forged and backdated letter of approval for the clinical trial conducted in April 1996.

Pfizer was also said to have offered one Dutse of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital , Kano $20,000 for procuring a forged and backdated letter of approval for the clinical trail conducted on the children.