THURSDAY, 6.00PM:
THE Nigerian military trial of 26 alleged plotters in a military coup against the regime of General Sani Abacha may be opened to “observers”, according to a Nigerian defence ministry spokesman.
“Anyone who wants to witness the trial as an observer should write to the president of the tribunal [to] seek permission,” said Colonel Godwin Ugbo, according to The Guardian.
“If he agrees, you go. You sit down and listen to the proceedings,” but should not “write anything that is contemptuous of the tribunal.”
Reporters should be “very careful about what they write. Write only what you know and is confirmed by the authorities.”
Nigerian authorities say they frustrated the coup on December 10, the day for which it was planned.
The trial, which began in the central city of Jos, is expected to last a month. Only the opening of the trial was open to press. The defendants include 15 military men, of whom three are generals. A journalist is among the civilians. They are faced with the death penalty if convicted.
The Abacha regime says it will relinquish power on October 1 this year, but has not tempered its apparent disregard for human rights in anticipation of that day.