Beko Ransome-Kuti was released 16th June 1998!

Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti (56) was formerly a Secretary General of the Nigerian Medical Association and was the Commonwealth Medical Association delegated member of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). He is still a member of the CHRI's advisory committee. Since he qualified as a medical doctor in 1963 after graduating from the University of Manchester, he has been neck-deep in activism. Originally his podium was the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, leading it into collision courses with every regime, since General Yakubu Gowon. He has been a frequent victim of arrest and detention in recent years as a result of his criticisms of the military government and his activities as chairman of the Campaign for Democracy.

Dr Ransome-Kuti and many others were repeatedly arrested and released during 1995. Despite High Court rulings in his defence, he was imprisoned incommunicado, because he exposed to the world the government's sentencing of prisoners of conscience and possible prisoners of conscience to death or life imprisonment in secret military trials. Within a few days he was himself convicted of being an accessory to treason and sentenced to life imprisonment, later commuted to 15 years' imprisonment. His offence: he sent copies of a statement by an accused person who was standing trial for treason, claiming that the whole trial was a farce.

He is now serving his jail term in Katsina Prison. His poor eyesight has worsened after being kept in solitary confinement for many months. His health, fragile at best of time, has deteriorated. The ruling junta would not allow a United Nations Observer Team to see him.

In January 1998 there were reports that Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti had been transferred to the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital in Zaria after becoming ill with an acute peptic ulcer and heart problems.

Amnesty International regards Dr Ransome-Kuti as a prisoner of conscience and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release. The Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association has appealed for his release. The World Medical Association and its national medical associations deplore the actions taken by the authorities in Nigeria and demand that Beko Ransome-Kuti be given a fair trial where he can be assured that he will be acquitted. In 1997 Beko Ransome-Kuti was awarded the human rights award of the city of Weimar.

You are encouraged to send appeals for his release to the following addresses. Feel free to copy/edit the enclosed letter.

General Sani Abacha
Chairman, Provisional Ruling Council
State House, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Lieutenant-General D. Oladipo Diya
Vice-Chairman, Provisional Ruling Council
Chief of General Staff
State House, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Alhaji Gidado Idris
Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria
State House, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

As a member of Amnesty International I am deeply concerned about the arrest and detention of Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti. I would appreciate to receive some information about his current situation. It has been reported that he has been convicted to 15 years imprisonment by a special military tribunal, and that he has been transferred to a prison in Northern Nigeria. His state of health is said to have been deteriorating. I would like to receive further information about these reports.

I am worried about the lack of concern of due process. I urge that, if his detention continues, Dr Ransome-Kuti is immediately given full rights of access to a lawyer, doctor and family members.

Dr Ransome-Kuti is a prisoner of conscience imprisoned for the non-violent expression of his political views. I call for his immediate and unconditional release.

Yours sincerely,

Nigerian Medical Association, 74 Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja-POB 1108, Lagos, Nigeria

Chief Tom Ikimi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maputo Street, PMB 130, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

The Editor, The News, PMB 21531, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

The Editor, Tell, PMB 21749, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

The Editor, Nigerian Tribune, POB 78, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

The Editor, Nigerian Observer, PMB 1334, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

The Editor, Abuja Times, Daily Times Publications, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

The Editor, Vanguard, PMB 1007, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria