ABUJA, Nigeria, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- The Nigerian government has filed lawsuits against three major tobacco groups, including British-American Tobacco, for their alleged impact on the country.
The lawsuits, which also target Philip Morris International and International Tobacco Ltd., seek more than $44 million, The Nigerian Tribune said Wednesday.
BAT affiliates, British-American Tobacco (Nigeria) Ltd. and British-American Tobacco (Investment), are also named in the suits along with their parent company.
The lawsuits ask for an injunction that would prevent the companies from promoting and distributing their goods to underage users in Nigeria. The suits also ask that alluring or misleading marketing by the companies be stopped and that tobacco not be sold near any site where children are predominantly present.
While the companies are all outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Federal High Court, a judge ordered they receive summons through international courier companies, the newspaper said.
