Amnesty International Demands Access to Lawyer for Rights Defenders Held Incommunicado by Nigeria

Friday, Feb. 29, 2008

(New York) — Amnesty International today wrote to the Nigerian government demanding Amnesty International today wrote to the Nigerian government demanding access to lawyers for Henry Okah and Edward Atatah, activists defending the rights of indigenous peoples in the Niger Delta who have been held incommunicado in an undisclosed location since February 14. for Henry Okah and Edward Atatah, activists defending the rights of indigenous peoples in the Niger Delta who have been held incommunicado in an undisclosed location since February 14.

Henry Okah, presumed spokesperson of MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta) and his colleague have been held since their extradition from Angola, despite an order by the Abuja High Court on February 22 calling for the two men to have access to lawyers and their families.

They have not been charged with a recognizable criminal offense.

“These two men are at risk of being tortured or ill-treated and should be seen by a lawyer and their families immediately,” said Erwin van der Borght, director of Amnesty International’s Africa program. “They should either be charged or released from detention.”

MEND has claimed that Henry Okah was killed while in detention, but a presidential spokesman says that he is alive.

Background information

MEND is one of the largest militant groups in the Niger Delta fighting for the rights of indigenous people for a share of the natural resources in the delta and against the degradation of the environment created by the extractive companies operating in the delta.

In February 2008, MEND declared a “total war” against oil companies and their employees, including foreign workers. MEND has been responsible for attacks on pipelines, kidnappings and killings in the Niger Delta.