Ken Saro-Wiwa’s trial postponed until February

**For background, see IFEX CH alerts and press releases dated 11 January 1995, 21, 2 December, 17 November, and various alerts through 1994** The trial against Nigerian writer and minority rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was postponed on 16 January 1995 after the prosecution failed to turn up at the court in Port Harcourt. Mr. Saro-Wiwa’s […]

**For background, see IFEX CH alerts and press releases
dated 11 January 1995, 21, 2 December, 17 November,
and various alerts through 1994**

The trial against Nigerian writer and minority rights activist
Ken Saro-Wiwa was postponed on 16 January 1995 after the
prosecution failed to turn up at the court in Port Harcourt. Mr.
Saro-Wiwa’s lawyer was forced to wait outside the court until the
Chairman of the Special Tribunal which will try Saro-Wiwa
appeared to tell him the case had been postponed until the first
week of February 1995. Saro-Wiwa has still not been formally
charged, but it is believed he will face charges under a decree
passed in 1994 covering civil disturbances. This stipulates the
death penalty for those accused of ‘incitement to murder,’ which
is believed to the likely charge against Saro-Wiwa.
The WiPC believes Saro-Wiwa to be held in violation of his right
to freedom of expression, and expresses great concern about his
treatment since his arrest, including the fact that he was
initially held incommunicado, that he has been denied access to
his lawyer, that he has yet to be brought before a court and
charged, that he has been denied medical treatment for a heart
condition and that his claims to have been ill-treated in custody
have not been investigated.

Recommended Action

General Sani Abacha

Chairman, Provisional Ruling Council

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense

State House

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory

Nigeria

Fax: + 234 95 232 138 (communications tend to be bad)