Gowon and Bayero worked for Pfizer
By Nicholas Ibekwe

January 9, 2011 01:23PM

As the opportunity for the victims of the 1996 Pfizer clinical trial in Kano of getting satisfactorily compensated continues to hang in the balance, a NEXT investigation has uncovered the despicable conduct of prominent Nigerians who sold their conscience to partake in what the late President Musa Yar’Adua described as “Pfizer’s blood money”.

In 2007, 11 years after the Trovan trials, the federal government and the Kano State government finally woke up to their responsibility of holding Pfizer accountable for using Nigerian infants as guinea pigs. Two separate suits, civil and criminal, were filed against the company. Pfizer, which had earlier approached a suit filed by the victims with levity, apparently realising the issue was no longer child’s play, decided it was in its best interest to reach a negotiated settlement.

Clandestine negotiations

NEXT investigations show that George Bush, the former president of the United States, sent his Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, as well as former diplomat, Thomas Pickering, to establish contact with late president, Umaru Yar’Adua, with a view to reaching a settlement.

Apart from the Kano State and federal government officials, as well as senior Pfizer employees and counsels who made up the committee, NEXT can exclusively reveal that Pfizer also secured the services of prominent Nigerians for what was termed “extensive informal contacts and understandings.”

Commenting on the manner in which Pfizer approached the negotiations, SimmonsCooper Partners, the law firm that acted as external counsel to both governments (Kano State and Federal Government), said “Pfizer adopted tactics that included using political or non-legal initiatives to engage the two Governments involved into accepting its terms.”

In the letter, sent to NEXT by SimmonsCooper Partners, it was stated that Pfizer “employed lobbying tactics, while appearing to also discuss the issue in the context of a legal matter.”

As part of Pfizer’s “lobbying tactics”, it secured the services of a former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, and the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero (represented by a senior traditional ruler), amongst other unnamed political elites especially in the North who, NEXT discovered, were instrumental to influencing the Kano State government to significantly reduce its claim.

“Meetings were protracted, complex and frustrating, and the negotiating process adopted by Pfizer greatly undermined the committee and government representatives by also reaching out to influential persons that they believed could seal the terms in their favour,” said Simmons Cooper, in a corroboration of what our source told us.

The significance of the influence exerted by Mr. Gowon, the representative of the Emir of Kano, and the other influential Nigerians employed by Pfizer as lobbyists, is better appreciated when one considers the fact that the Kano State claim, which was initially $2 billion dollars, was drastically reduced to $150 million, and finally to $75 million.

Pfizer, in an apparent attempt to justify the role played by politicians and traditional leaders in their getting what is literally a slap on the wrist, had stated through its attorney, in a letter seen by our reporter, that “informal contacts and understandings” are common in multi-faceted negotiations of this nature.

[b]Gowon’s derogatory statements

One of the prominent Nigerians employed by Pfizer, Mr. Gowon, was apparently so determined to get a favourable settlement for Pfizer that he, against what must have been his better judgement, let his tongue loose.

During one of those meetings where terms of settlement were being negotiated, Mr. Gowon, who was representing Pfizer which earns over $18 billion annually in profit, worked hard to secure a paltry settlement. He is quoted as telling negotiators that the worth of the life of a child born and bred in Kano cannot be compared to that of a child born and bred in the United States. This was apparently in response to entreaties that Pfizer should pay the same rate of compensation it would pay had the trial taken place in the United States.

This comment, NEXT gathered, generated deep anger and criticism among those at the meeting and the former head of state, sensing he had overstepped the mark, quickly apologised and begged that the comment not be repeated outside the meeting room. A source present at the meeting, who wants to remain anonymous, confirmed that Mr. Gowon actually made these comments attributed to him.[/b]

Lukman Ishola, counsel to the victims of the Trovan trial, described the role of the Emir of Kano and Mr. Gowon as shameful.

“What Gowon did was like asking Bill Clinton to negotiate on behalf of Al-Qaeda. What Pfizer did in Kano is not short of terrorism, because they had a prior knowledge of the harm the drug is capable of causing, yet they deliberately administered the drug to sick infants,” Mr. Ishola said.

It is not clear how much Messers Gowon and Ado Bayero got paid for working (lobbying on behalf of Pfizer) but our research indicates that lobbyists in America, Pfizer’s home country, make between N1.3 billion ($9 million) and N10.5 billion ($70 million) a year.

However, Pfizer spokesperson, Chris Loder, said in response to our enquiry that “any suggestion that Pfizer has made improper payments to government officials or anyone else is false.”

Mr. Gowon has not responded to an email enquiry we sent to him as at the time we went to press. Our efforts to reach Mr. Bayero for his response to these allegations were also unsuccessful. His secretary insisted he would not talk to our reporter on the phone. He also did not respond to text messages asking if our Kano reporter can visit him to hear his side of the story.

Aondoakaa was involved too

Our investigations further uncover various underhand dealings that led to the final settlement between Pfizer and the government. The multinational drug manufacturer employed both inducement and subtle pressure on political and traditional leaders. Pfizer officials at various times used a Wing Aviation chartered flight to travel from the Murtala Muhammed Airport Lagos to Kano. During those trips, bags which are suspected to have contained money, exchanged hands.

NEXT investigations also reveal that apart from official meetings held in Dubai and London to negotiate a settlement (which we learnt was funded by Kano State government), other clandestine meetings were held in London, where participants were paid handsome honorariums by Pfizer, which, we also gathered, paid all the bills accrued from the trips.

Another person who played a pivotal role in letting Pfizer get away with what is no more than a symbolic settlement was former attorney general, Michael Aondoakaa. Despite his saying that he did not know anything about the settlement, that he was already out of office when the settlement deal was signed, NEXT investigations have categorically found that he was the mastermind of the settlement deal.

“I don’t know about this money you are talking about. I didn’t touch a kobo. The lawyers were dealing with Pfizer directly and the matter was still on when I left office,” Mr. Aondoakaa had told our reporter in a previous interview.

But according to SimmonsCooper Partners, the federal government “is primarily represented by the AGF, and Aandoaka served as the lead counsel on behalf of the federal government. He in fact held meetings with and concluded the discussions with Pfizer for the FGN, in our absence,” the lawyers said.

A family affair

Mr. Aondoakaa, we gathered, invited his cousin, Paul Orhii, now the director general of National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to join the negotiation team, describing him as an “expert” on such matters. Protest by members of the government negotiation team that Mr. Orhii, due to his relative inexperience as a lawyer may not be equipped to handle such a high profile and sensitive case fell on deaf ears, as the former AGF insisted on having him in the team.

Eventually, our sources say, members of the federal government negotiating team were sidelined and Mr. Orhii, together with the former AGF, took charge of talks with Pfizer. A reliable source who was fully in the know about the negotiations told NEXT that Mr. Aondoakaa was so determined to mastermind the proceedings that he stopped consulting counsels to the government when important decisions were made. Our investigation also reveals that Mr. Aondoakaa only sent the final settlement papers to the government lawyers for their signature after the decision on a settlement had been reached.

It is still not clear if Mr. Aondoakaa got any pecuniary benefit in the Pfizer deal, but NEXT did confirm that contrary to what has been set as standard procedure where all parties, Federal lawyers and Kano State lawyers were always present at all negotiations with Pfizer, Mr. Aondoakaa did hold at least one clandestine meeting in Dubai with Pfizer representatives.

It isn’t clear what was discussed at the meeting, but according to our source, it came as quite a shock to government lawyers when they realised the man who had essentially employed them to act on his and government behalf was now holding direct calendestine meetings with Pfizer.

Bello Adoke was not candid

NEXT investigations also reveal the Attorney General of the Federation, Bello Adoke, was less than straight forward when he told our reporter in an interview we did in November last year that the Pfizer settlement had nothing to do with him.

“He (Mr. Aondoakaa) is the person who decided the issues of the case before I came here as the AGF. As for the terms of the settlement, what I am told is that the case was settled under a non-disclosure legal term,” Mr. Adoke had said.

However, our investigation shows that as at the time the negotiations were underway, Mr. Adoke was working for Pfizer. Indeed, he attended every meeting held both in Dubai and London. On one of such meetings held on March 5, 2008 at the office of the AGF, Mr. Adoke was listed alongside Damian Dodo, Anthony Idigbe, Sam Nwakohu, and Ebelechukwu Egeonu as Nigerian counsels to Pfizer. So while he may not have been Attorney General at the time, as a Pfizer lawyer, he was fully conversant with the case.


NEXT WEEK, IN THE THIRD PART OF OUR EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PFIZER TRIALS, WE EXAMINE THE INFIGHTING BETWEEN LAWYERS TO THE VICTIMS OF THE TROVAN TRIALS AND GOVERNMENT COUNSELS, AND THE IMPACT THIS HAD ON THE CASE

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/5662185-146/gowon_and_bayero_worked_for_pfizer.csp

During one of those meetings where terms of settlement were being negotiated, Mr. Gowon, who was representing Pfizer which earns over $18 billion annually in profit, worked hard to secure a paltry settlement. He is quoted as telling negotiators that the worth of the life of a child born and bred in Kano cannot be compared to that of a child born and bred in the United States. This was apparently in response to entreaties that Pfizer should pay the same rate of compensation it would pay had the trial taken place in the United States.

This comment, NEXT gathered, generated deep anger and criticism among those at the meeting and the former head of state, sensing he had overstepped the mark, quickly apologised and begged that the comment not be repeated outside the meeting room. A source present at the meeting, who wants to remain anonymous, confirmed that Mr. Gowon actually made these comments attributed to him.

Wow.

Lukman Ishola, counsel to the victims of the Trovan trial, described the role of the Emir of Kano and Mr. Gowon as shameful.

“What Gowon did was like asking Bill Clinton to negotiate on behalf of Al-Qaeda. What Pfizer did in Kano is not short of terrorism, because they had a prior knowledge of the harm the drug is capable of causing, yet they deliberately administered the drug to sick infants,” Mr. Ishola said.

"Mr. Gowon, who was representing Pfizer which earns over $18 billion annually in profit, worked hard to secure a paltry settlement. He is quoted as telling negotiators that the worth of the life of a child born and bred in Kano cannot be compared to that of a child born and bred in the United States"

^^^^^
SMH

I this report is true, I will have to commend the efforts of 234next's reporters. It will be further evidence that we are our own worst enemies and our leadership deficiency will kill our people faster than an Atomic bomb.

It would have been nice to get access to the real source of this report. I read the initial wikileaks reveal on this and I will say this NEXT version is just way out there. Has there been another wikileaks reveal on the pfizer case or somethinG?

eku_bear:

Wow.

that statement by yakubu gowon sounded like someone steeped in inferiority complex or 'uncle tomisim'.

@Eku_bear, yea I can't seem to stop reading that allegation myself, yes it is sickening but, as a follower of Nigerian History I'm not all that amazed.

Kobojunkie:

It would have been nice to get access to the real source of this report. I read the last wikileaks reveal on this. Is there another one on the very same?

According to 234next it's their own investigative reporting, I'm not sure if they got stuff from wikileaks though.

@@@@

northern united in looting

extraordinary.

Gowon must be over 70 years old, and yet he's still so gullible for cash. Shame

How much did Pfizer pay him and Bayero afterwards. I tot its only Ibos like money?

Breeze don blow,fowl nyansh don open. Later dat decrepit fool called gowon wuld transverse d country organising prayer meetings wit gullible nigerians,pastors inclusive,falling ova demselves in oda 2 attend. Mschewwww

^^ abi o!

asha 80:


that statement by[b] yakubu gowon sounded like someone steeped in inferiority complex or 'uncle tomisim'.[/b]

Ain't they all? From Shell, oil deals to Pfizer, it is obvious to the discerning observer that we and our leadership suffer from some massive inferiority complex, it forces us to negotiate against the interests of our own people.

Even wild animals tend to defend their own better.

During one of those meetings where terms of settlement were being negotiated, Mr. Gowon, who was representing Pfizer which earns over $18 billion annually in profit, worked hard to secure a paltry settlement. He is quoted as telling negotiators that the worth of the life of a child born and bred in Kano cannot be compared to that of a child born and bred in the United States. This was apparently in response to entreaties that Pfizer should pay the same rate of compensation it would pay had the trial taken place in the United States.

a great nigerian leader

who knows what else our leaders have said about the masses in private

does mr gowon extend the same measure to his immediate and extended family ? are they too worth less than americans

this is the real reason why the shells of this world have so much confidence, they know our leaders will sell nigeria down the drain when push comes to shove
i'm sure all those who tried to resist were disgraced out of office

i have always seen all this ethics blah blah that company ceos blather as bs

lets hope this story balloons beyond naija

pfizer will end up paying up all that money and more

kudos to next and assuage

oyb:

this is the real reason why the shells of this world have so  much confidence, they know our leaders will sell nigeria down the drain when push comes to shove
i'm sure all those who tried to resist were disgraced out of office

i have always seen all this ethics blah blah that company ceos blather as bs

lets hope this story balloons beyond naija

pfizer will end up paying up all that money and more

kudos to next and assuage

Exactly.

Few weeks ago wikileaks revealed Shells opinion about our leaders through their EVP Ann Pickard's comment:

The Ambassador asked what Shell's thoughts were on any
potential for a coup. Pickard answered that there is little
intellectual capital to plan and execute a coup and Shell sees little
potential for one

.

"Little intellectual capital" Although she was talking about military leaders(the children Gowon raised) I'm sure she has the same view of our political leadership. Gowon proved her right here again. SMH

Did he do that for monetary gain? is he Igbo by ant chance?

Gowon was comparing the value of an Almajiri child to a Harvard trained kid in the US.
Perhaps his people in Plateau State would be better off without them.
The Emirs are holding the average Hausa person captive under the guise of religion. They quickly sell out their rights for money.
All you need to win an election is to be in the good books of an Emir by always shouting 'ranka dede zaki' and promise him you will remember to bring money from govt coffers to service his horses and buy him the latest Limousine.
I wouldnt blame Gowon so much, its possible he is a shareholder in Pfizer, so he needs to defend his business interests

Gowon's bible-clutching never fooled me for one day! His behavior is typical of nearly all Nigerian leaders, Stupid old fart!

Na wa O! this pfizer thing no wan end. . .

I'm waiting for this id.iot to organise another 'Nigeria Pray'.

He's just your typical religious Nigerian hypo.




I dey laugh.

My people are corrupted

Kilode?!:

According to 234next it's their own investigative reporting, I'm not sure if they got stuff from wikileaks though.

Well, I think I would like to do my own investigative research to find out if any of the above is even remotely true.

Kobojunkie:

Well, I think I would like to do my own investigative research to find out if any of the above is even remotely true.

are you er employing the word of a newspaper born and bred in nigeria is not worth the word of a newspaper born and bred in the us?

I still believe Gowon should be tried for crimes against humanity. This is not surprising he would say something like this about innocent children in Kano. He had no problem starving Biafran children.

Kobojunkie:

Well, I think I would like to do my own investigative research to find out if any of the above is even remotely true.

Kobojunkie, You really can do that kind of investigative research on your own? Swell!

Can you also help us find out who really killed Dele Giwa? I will appreciate.

@Oyb, what you have there from scp-law is not the same as what 234NEXT has in the article above. Infact, the scp-law extract there is not much different from what we read in the wikileaks document only a couple of weeks ago. So, I would really love to know where the extra by 234NEXT comes from.

oyb:

are you er employing the word of a newspaper born and bred in nigeria is not worth the word of a newspaper born and bred in the us?  

Are you referring to some of the same newspapers that fed us "GARBAGE" for 3 months back during the Yar adua fiasco? I just like to at least have some back up source to help verify some of the out of this world stories I read from some of them. I do that regularly.

Kilode?!:

Kobojunkie, You really can do that kind of investigative research on your own? Swell!

Can you also help us find out who really killed Dele Giwa? I will appreciate.

I am not really interested in knowing who killed Dele Giwa -- not sure why you can't do that all on your own.

while not completely discrediting the report, i think we should be wary of most claims of newspapers
especially when they claim shadowy "impeccable" & "reliable" sources.
The accused have a right of reply

Kobojunkie:

I am not really interested in knowing who killed Dele Giwa -- not sure why you can't do that all on your own.

I tried, I just can't find the Truth. You know how hard it is to rely on all these Nigerian newspapers and their "out of the world" investigations.

Thanks anyway, I thought you might be able to help  

Kobojunkie:


Are you referring to some of the same newspapers that fed us "GARBAGE" for 3 months back during the Yar adua fiasco? I just like to at least have some back up source to help verify some of the out of this world stories I read from some of them. I do that regularly.  

you will recall that NEXT was the ONLY paper that announced that GEJ ouch yardua was brain dead in saudi arabia

next is probably the most credible newspaper in nigeia today

i'm just pointing out that simmonscooperpartners exists, and that next made references to a letter by them. if you want to carry out your personal investigations, you can start from there.

Nigeria we hail thee