In 1999, Country Reports 1999 reported that the government of Nigeria was believed to have released all its "political detainees" by March 1999, including those who had been arrested following the 1990 failed coup d'état (23 Feb. 2000). Amnesty International expressed doubts that all "prisoners of conscience" were out of detention, but did note that most of the people involved in the 1990 coup attempt had been released (31 Mar. 1999).

Information on the current situation (post 2000) of family members of the military officers who were implicated in the failed coup d'état of 22 April 1990 was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, information was found on the repercussions for the family members of the coup plotters immediately after the coup attempt.

On 22 April 1990, a group of military officers participated in a failed coup d'état against Ibrahim Babangida's military dictatorship in Nigeria (UHS 4 July 2001; HRW 1990).

After trials that Amnesty International criticized as being "secret and grossly unfair" (31 Mar. 1999; ibid 8 Oct. 1991) and Human Right Watch (HRW) said lacked "the most basic safeguards" (1990), 69 armed forces officers were executed for their part in the plot (Amnesty International 31 Mar. 1999; ibid. 8 Oct. 1991; HRW 1990).

Several family members, wives, girlfriends and associates of some men wanted for their alleged involvement with the coup attempt were detained and/or convicted of being involved (HRW 1992). Amnesty International suggested that these people could be considered "prisoners of conscience" and appeared to have been detained as "hostages" to encourage the wanted men to turn themselves in (8 Oct. 1991; ibid. Mar. 1991).

In 1992, all coup plotters were apparently pardoned by the government of Nigeria, but human rights groups complained that many of the men still in detention were not released (Country Reports 1999 23 Feb. 2000; Amnesty International 31 Mar. 1999). The Urhobo Historical Society (UHS) reported that Great Ovedje Ogboru and Saliba Mukoro, two of the highest profile coup plotters who had fled the country, were granted "national pardons" in 1998 (4 July 2001). In March 1999, the Nigerian government announced that it had released all its "prisoners of conscience" (Country Reports 1999 23 Feb. 2000; Amnesty International 31 Mar. 1999).

Information on the situation of family members of the alleged coup plotters since 2000 was not found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

Following is a list of the family members and associates named in various reports consulted by the Research Directorate:

Turner Ochuko Ogboru, a civilian brother of Great Ovedje Ogboru - one of the suspected financiers of the plot who escaped, was convicted in 1990 and sentenced to life imprisonment (Amnesty International 31 Mar. 1999). According to Country Reports 1999, he was granted amnesty and ordered released in 1993, re-arrested in 1995 and finally released in 1998 (23 Feb. 2000). According to Amnesty International, he was granted amnesty in 1993, he was ordered released by a court in 1994, and was released in 1998 (31 Mar. 1999). Other reports indicate that he was released in 1998 (Delta State.com 13 July 2000; Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991; ibid. Mar 1991; HRW 1992);

Gloria Anwuri/Awhirin and Rhoda Heman-Ackah, sisters of Great Ovedje Ogboru, were arrested and detained on 8 May 1991 (Delta State.com 13 July 2000; HRW 1992; Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991; ibid. Mar. 1991);

Dorah Mukoro, the wife of Major Saliba Mukoro, one of the leaders of the plot who escaped, was arrested immediately after the coup (Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991). She was detained along with her children, her niece and a family housemaid named Alice Atehere (ibid.). They escaped from detention in August or September 1991 and were reported to have fled the country (HRW 1992; Constitutional Rights Project Oct-Dec. 2000; Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991; ibid. Mar. 1991);

Charles Mukoro, a brother of Saliba Mukoro, was detained shortly after the coup attempt (Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991);

David Mukoro, an uncle of Charles Mukoro (brother-in-law of Dorah Mukoro) was detained in April 1991 (ibid.). Amnesty International reported that he may have died in detention in June 1998 as a result of tuberculosis and medical neglect (31 Mar. 1999);

Chief Simon Mukoro, father of Saliba Mukoro, was arrested on 10 May 1990 (Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991; ibid. Mar. 1991);

Gloria Mowarin, the girlfriend of a suspected financier, was detained on 28 April 1990 (HRW 1992; Amnesty International 8 Oct. 1991). She was ordered released in February 1992, but remained in detention at least until the end of 1992 (HRW 1992);

Christine Osamede Oziegbe, the wife of an armed forces officer believed to have escaped, was detained and held at least until the end of 1990 (ibid.; ibid. Mar. 1991);

Pat Obahor and Mrs. Edojah, wives of armed forces officers believed to have fled after the coup attempt, were detained (ibid. 8 Oct. 1991);

Joseph Targema Orkar, a brother of Gideon Orkar - the leader of the coup attempt - and also a former Benue State official, was detained (ibid. Mar. 1991);

David Orkar, a brother of Gideon Orkar and also a lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University was detained (ibid.);

Ubende Orkar, the step-mother of Gideon Orkar, was detained for a brief time and released (ibid.);

Edoreh Agbah, the business partner of one of the men who allegedly financed the coup attempt, was also reportedly detained (ibid.).

In July 2000, Delta State.com, a news site that focuses on the Delta states of Nigeria, reported on the "triumphant" return to Abraka in the state of Delta of Great Ovedje Ogboru, the alleged financier of the coup (13 July 2000). According to this article, he was greeted with great fanfare as a "hero" to the local youths (Delta State.com 13 July 2000). The article also mentions that members of his family had been harassed by the authorities immediately after the coup attempt (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Amnesty International. 31 March 1999. "Releases of Political Prisoners - Questions Remain about Past Human Rights Violations." (AI Index: AFR 44/001/1999) http://web.amnesty.org/library/print/ENGAFR440011999 [Accessed 30 June 2004]

_____. 8 October 1991. "Nigeria: Detention of Hostages." (AI Index: AFR 44/11/91).

_____. March 1991. "Nigeria: A Summary of Human Rights Concerns in 1990." (AI Index: AFR 44/04/91).

Constitutional Rights Project (CRP). October-December 2000. "CRP Marks 10 Years." Constitutional Rights Journal. Vol.10, No. 37. http://www.crp.org.ng/crj1037.htm [Accessed 2 July 2004]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1999. 23 February 2000. "Nigeria." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/265pf.htm [Accessed 2 July 2004]

Delta State.com. 13 July 2000. Tony Egbulefu. "Triumphant Return Of Ogboru." http://www.deltastate.com/articles/ogboru.asp [Accessed 2 July 2004]

Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1992. "Nigeria: Human Rights Developments." Human Rights Watch World Report 1992. http://www.hrw.org/reports/1992/WR92/AFW-06.htm [Accessed 2 July 2004]

_____. 1990. "Nigeria: Human Rights Developments." Human Rights Watch World Report 1990. http://www.hrw.org/reports/1990/WR90/AFRICA.BOU-08.htm [Accessed 30 June 2004]

Urhobo Historical Society (UHS). 4 July 2001. "Annual Mukoro Mowoe Memorial Lecture." http://www.waado.org/Organizations/UNF/FourthMowoeLecture.html [Accessed 2 July 2004]

Internet sources: African Commission on Human and People's Rights, AllAfrica.com, BBC, Dawodu.com, NigeriaDot.com, The Namibian, The Vanguard.