Nigeria's government is suing three international tobacco firms for $44bn (£22bn) - the first such case in the developing world… It says tobacco manufacturers are putting unacceptable pressure on the country's health services, and companies are targeting younger and younger people in an attempt to replace former smokers in Europe and America. British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris [part of Altria] and International Tobacco Ltd, deny the claims and say they are socially responsible companies who do not target children. They question the massive sums demanded by the government and say the case "has no merit". But government lawyers are convinced they have a strong case.