UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
Arrest of General Obasanjo, 03/17/'95

Arrest of General Obasanjo, 03/17/'95

URGENT ACTION:
General Obasanjo Arrested by Nigerian Authorities

Friday, March 17, 1995

On Monday, March 13, former head of state and pro-democracy activist General Olusegun Obasanjo was arrested at his home and is now being held in detention by Nigerian authorities. Although no formal charges have been made against the General, it is assumed that he is being detained in connection with a recent coup attempt, uncovered on March 6. Government authorities made public last Friday that 29 others had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt and have stated that further arrests would be made.

Since the June 1993 presidential election, the projected winner of which was Chief Moshood Abiola with 59% of the vote, the Nigerian military has continued to harass and imprison opponents of the government. Moshood Abiola is still in jail as well as Ken Saro-Wiwa, leader of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People. Ken Saro-Wiwa is currently on trial for murder before a special military tribunal after having spent nine months in detention. Other Nigerian citizens continue to be harassed and subjected to harsh conditions inside Nigeria's jails.

Unless the regime comes under much stronger pressure from outside, this latest crackdown indicates that there will be little chance of restoring democracy peacefully.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

* Write to the Nigerian authorities to demand the immediate and unconditional release of General Obasanjo. Also raise the issue of the continued detention of Moshood Abiola and all prisoners of conscience in Nigeria. Demand that Ken Saro-Wiwa's trial be open to the Nigerian public and that international observers be allowed to monitor the proceedings.

Write To:
General Sani Abacha
State House, Abuja
NIGERIA
Fax: 234 952-32138

Michael Agbamuchi
Attorney General & Minister of Justice
Old Federal Secretariat
Broad Street, Lagos NIGERIA

H.E. Z.M. Kazaure
Ambassador
Nigerian Embassy to the U.S.
2201 M Street, NW
Washington, DC  20037
Tel: (202) 822-1500 or 986-8400
Fax: (202) 775-1385 or 986-8440


Message-Id: [199503172103.NAA12828@igc3.igc.apc.org[
From: "Washington Office on Africa"[woa@igc.apc.org[
Date:   Fri, 17 Mar 1995 14:47:11 +0000
Subject:Arrest of General Obasanjo

Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar

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