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Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Glenda Jackson (Labour), on Monday, 12 June 1995, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 68 members in total.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA (No. 2)

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.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received an amendment.

HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA (No. 2) (1226A1)
The Early day motion has received an amendment sponsored by David Atkinson (primary, Conservative) and tabled on Monday, 12 June 1995. It has been signed by 3 members in total.
leave out from `House' to end and add `deeply regrets the lack of democracy in Nigeria and deplores abuses of human rights wherever they may occur; calls upon the Government of Nigeria to make urgent and rapid progress towards the restoration of democratic civilian rule and to uphold in dealing with individual citizens the highest standards of justice; notes, however, that the National Constitutional Conference in Nigeria has now completed its work and that the publication of its draft Constitution is imminent; believes, therefore, that now is a time to continue a meaningful dialogue with the authorities in Nigeria both bilaterally and through the Commonwealth with a view to encouraging further progress towards democracy and to influencing positively the attitude of the Nigerian Government as it prepares its own response to the report of the National Constitutional Conference; and urges Her Majesty's Government both to maintain pressure for change on the Nigerian Government and to give every possible assistance to the people of Nigeria as they move down what will inevitably be a difficult road towards a return to democratic civilian Government.'.

Secondary information

Type
Early day motion
Reference
1226 
1226A1 
Session
1994-95
Subjects
Human rights Political prisoners Nigeria Oppression
Link
View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk