/ 22 July 1999

NIGERIAN SPEAKER DETAINED

THE speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Ibrahim Buhari, was detained for questioning by security agents over claims he lied over his age and qualifications for election, press reports said on Thursday. The reports in various newspapers said Buhari, who announced on Wednesday his decision to “step aside” until completion of an investigation into the claims, was detained at the parliament complex and later released. Assembly officials refused to confirm whether Buhari, alleged to have falsified election documents to hide his age and provide false academic qualifications, will formally resign his post on Thursday. Buhari claims he is 36 and therefore above the minimum age of 30 required for election in Nigeria. News reports claim evidence he is 29.