Nigeria Security Update #2 050607

Dokubo-Asari release slated for later in the week


Governors of Nigeria's Niger Delta states have appealed to new President Umaru Yar'Adua to release imprisoned oil militant Mujahid Dokubo-Asari.

The governors say Mr Dokubo-Asari, on trial for treason charges, is ill and need medical attention. He reportedly has been removed from prison and is being treated at a medical clinic. His release is slated for Friday, according to unnamed sources in Nigeria.

The appeal follows a meeting between Mr Yar'Adua and the new governors of Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states.

Militant groups in the Niger Delta have long made Mr Dokubo-Asari's release a condition for stopping attacks.

"Dokubo-Asari right now is not feeling too well. We are just trying to demand his release on the basis of that," said Bayelsa State Governor Timire Sylva on behalf of his two colleagues.

Known for his angry outbursts in court, Mr Dokubo-Asari's trial has been adjourned several times since his arrest in November 2005.

Nigeria's Supreme Court is to decide on 8 June if the detained oil militant can be released on bail or not.

But the trial is now set to resume on 13 June before the federal high court in Abuja.

Mr Dokubo-Asari's lawyer Festus Keyamo last month accused the Nigerian authorities of planning to "eliminate" his client in detention.

In his inaugural speech last week, Mr Yar'Adua called for a ceasefire in the Niger Delta and promised he would tackle the crisis.

But the most prominent militant group in the region, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) called for an unconditional release of Mr Dokubo-Asari as a first step towards dialogue.

Mend, which is behind most of the attacks that have reduced Nigeria's oil output by over 25%, say they want locals to have more control of Nigeria's oil which comes from the Niger Delta.

Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer and fifth largest exporter of crude to the US.

Over the weekend, Mend announced a one-month halt in attacks and said it was prepared to negotiate with the new government through its chosen intermediaries and in the presence of a neutral arbiter.