The Nigerian Federal Government has started legal action against three multinational tobacco firms. In a landmark case the government is seeking damages of N5.3 trillion Naira ( US$43 Billion ) over allegation that the companies, British-American Tobacco Plc, Philip Morris International and International Tobacco Limited had targeted minors with their products.

According to newspaper reports from Nigeria, the suit was filed on Wednesday by the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The suit asked the court to compel the companies to cease marketing products to minors and desist from the sale or distribution of tobacco products close schools and other public venues.

A spokeswoman for BAT said that the allegations were completely unfounded. “We don’t market to children and we have never attempted to do so,” she said. “We also actively lobby governments to raise the age at which people are allowed to buy tobacco to 18.”

A spokesman for Philip Morris said: “Philip Morris International and its affiliates do not currently sell cigarettes in Nigeria.”