Human Rights In Nigeria (No. 2)

EDM number 1226 in 1994-95, proposed by Glenda Jackson on 12/06/1995.

That this House notes with concern that two years since the annulled election of Moshood Abiola as President of Nigeria he is still being held without proper trial by the military government; notes with concern his serious ill health; condemns the harsh conditions in which he is being held, in contravention of court orders and the refusal of the authorities to allow him access to justice; calls upon the Nigerian authorities to restore, without delay, democracy and human rights in Nigeria; commends to the House the report produced by Michael Birnbaum QC and published by Article XIX highlighting the cases of the Nigerian writer and human rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and 14 other members of the Ogoni people who have been brought to trial before a special tribunal in Nigeria; expresses its concern that the 15, despite facing the death penalty, have been denied their rights to trial by an independent and impartial tribunal, to adequate defence and to appeal; condemns the recent arrest of lawyers defending Ken Saro-Wiwa and Moshood Abiola; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to exert all possible diplomatic, economic and political pressure on the Nigerian authorities to obtain the release of these 16 defendants and all political prisoners currently held.

This motion has been signed by a total of 67 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.