Lawyer Loubna Farage, representing 19 families affected by acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by imported Indian-made syrups, has confirmed the successful serving of Maiden Pharmaceuticals Company in India with an ongoing civil lawsuit in Banjul. The update was in a publication in the Times of India on January 25, 2024.

“We were able to serve Maiden Pharmaceuticals Company Limited by publishing in the Times Newspaper of India on January 25, 2024,” counsel Farage informed the court.

Senior State Counsel Binga Dinshiya, the Director of Civil Litigation and International Law Department at the Attorney General’s Chambers and Ministry of Justice, representing the government of The Gambia, informed the court that they are still reviewing the settlement offer and have requested an extension until February 26, 2024, to make their decision.

“My lord, we had discussions with the counsels of the plaintiffs (families of AKI victims), and we asked for time to get back to them. But as of now, we have yet to call them back for further discussions. We are still asking for more time, subject to the convenience of the court,” Senior State Counsel Binga told the court.

Lawyer Loubna Farage, representing the victim’s families, expressed no objection to the extension request

In response, Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court of The Gambia adjourned the case to March 7, 2024.

The AKI cases in The Gambia occurred in July 2022 due to the presence of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in pediatric medicines. The Ministry of Health confirmed that 70 children died due to cough syrup from Maiden Pharmaceutical Company in India.

19 families have taken legal action against the companies, seeking damages of 15 million dalasis per child.