Nigerian Ruler Orders 9 Political Prisoners Freed

LAGOS, Nigeria — This nation’s new military leader, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, on Monday ordered the release of nine of its most prominent political prisoners--including a former head of state, union leaders and pro-democracy activists.

However, the country’s best-known political detainee, Moshood Abiola, apparent winner of 1993’s nullified presidential election, was not listed among those to be freed.

The prisoners have been held in jails across the West African nation. It was not immediately clear when they would return home.

Abubakar “ordered the immediate release of some detainees and prisoners to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and reconstruction,” his press secretary, David Atta, said.

Among those ordered released was Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, 62, Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979. Obasanjo, who was sentenced to 15 years for treason in 1995, voluntarily relinquished the presidency after an election and became a formidable critic of Abubakar’s predecessor, Gen. Sani Abacha, who died June 8.