Abuja - Nigeria's military ruler, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, yesterday ordered the release of 17 more political prisoners, but the presidential claimant, Mr Moshood Abiola, was not among them.
A statement from the presidency said those freed included a human rights lawyer and opposition leader Mr Olisa Agbakoba and well known politicians Mr Olu Falae and Mr Abubakar Rimi. "General Abubakar appealed to the released persons to reciprocate this gesture by keeping the peace and contributing positively to the national reconciliation process," the statement said.