Geneva - The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, yesterday welcomed the release of nine leading political prisoners in Nigeria and said she hoped Mr Moshood Abiola, the country's most prominent detainee, would also be freed soon.
The former military ruler, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo, was among the nine whose release was ordered on Monday by the new military ruler, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, the successor of Gen Sani Abacha, who died on June 8th. Mr Abiola, a wealthy businessman, is the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, which was annulled.