British American Tobacco (BAT) is entangled in major legal proceedings across Nigeria, with five states demanding a total of N10.6 trillion (£9.3 billion) for healthcare costs linked to smoking-related diseases.
These cases have been filed by the federal government alongside the states of Kano, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, and Gombe, with claims stretching back to 2007. The legal action accuses BAT of negligence, fraud, and several other violations related to the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products.
BAT’s 2023 Annual Report read:
- “British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Limited (BAT Nigeria), the Company and Investments have been named as defendants in a medical reimbursement action by the federal government of Nigeria, filed on 6 November 2007 in the Federal High Court, and in similar actions filed by the Nigerian states of Kano (9 May 2007), Oyo (30 May 2007), Lagos (13 March 2008), Ogun (26 February 2008), and Gombe (17 October 2008) commenced in their respective High Courts. In the five cases that remain active, the plaintiffs seek a total of approximately NGN10.6 trillion (approximately £9.3 billion) in damages, including special, anticipatory and punitive damages, restitution and disgorgement of profits, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief.
