13 February 1998

Alert

Poet Ogaga Ifowodo still detained in solitary confinement


Incident details

Ogaga Ifowodo

writer(s)

detained


(WiPC/IFEX) - According to WiPC, poet Ogaga Ifowodo, who was arrested around
6 November 1997 on his return to Nigeria from the UK, is still reported to
be held in solitary confinement
with no access to family, lawyer or doctors (not previously reported by
IFEX). Ifowodo's arrest has not yet been officially acknowledged and no
charges have been preferred against him. There
are fears that he may be held in isolation in very harsh conditions.




An honorary fellow at the Heinrich B=F6ll Foundation in Germany, Ifowodo=
also
won the 1996 Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) award for poetry. He has
recently been elected as honorary member by the West German PEN Centre.


Recommended Action


Send appeals to authorities:

  • demanding Ifowodo's immediate and unconditional release if he is not to
    be promptly charged and fairly tried
  • appealing to them to ensure that Ifowodo be treated humanely while in
    detention and that he be
    allowed access to his family, a lawyer and a medical doctor of his choice




    Appeals To



    General Sani Abacha
    Chairman, Provisional Ruling Council
    State House, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory,
    Nigeria Fax:    + 234 9 523 2138

    Chief Tom Ikimi
    Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maputo Street PMB 130,=20
    Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria Mr Justice
    P.K. Nwokedi, Chairman

    and to:
    National Human Rights Commission
    National Assembly Complex, Maitama
    PMB 444, Garki
    Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

    and to the diplomatic representative of NIGERIA
    accredited to your country.







    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.





    • Source

    International PEN Writers in Prison Committee
    Brownlow House
    50-51 High Holborn
    London WC1V 6ER
    United Kingdom
    wipc (@) internationalpen.org.uk
    Fax:+44 20 74050339

    At a glance

    Nigeria

    See more

    Nigeria

    IFEX members working in this country 3

     
    More from Nigeria
    • Issues in Frameworks, Freedom of Expression and Internet Rights in Nigeria

      A Baseline Research by the Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)

      International Press Centre (IPC) 2 April 2018

    • Freedom on the Net 2017: Nigeria

      Online journalists and internet users in Nigeria were subject to increasing extralegal harassment and intimidation for their activities

      Freedom House 16 November 2017

    • Freedom of the Press 2017: Nigeria

      Two bloggers were arrested under provisions of the Cybercrimes Act after criticizing public officials.

      Freedom House 28 April 2017

    At a glance

    West Africa