Amnesty International is calling for the fair retrial of seven Nigerian nationals, convicted by a court in Equatorial Guinea for their alleged involvement in an attempted coup. Last Month, a court in the capital, Malabo, sentenced the six men and one woman to 12 years' imprisonment each, on the charges of attempting to assassinate President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo during an alleged attack on the presidential palace last year.

The Equatorial Guinea government blamed 'MEND' for the attack. The seven Nigerians were Marck Etim Marck, Eyoh Okon Ikara, Eyon Kun Jhon, Effiong Matew, Okokon Iyanam (aka Mintay), Isangadighi and Ekaette Eyo Okon, a woman, were tried between 17 and 22 March 2010 by the Tribunal de Apelación de Malabo (Malabo Court of Appeal).

According to reports the accused Nigerians pleaded 'not guilty' and claimed to be fishermen and traders who had been lost at sea and had drifted into Equatorial Guinea waters where they were arrested by the navy.


A Nigerian woman also detained at sea has since died in custody. Amnesty International is appealing to the Equatorial Guinean authorities to take action to make sure these men receive a fair trial," said Tawanda Hondora, Deputy Africa Director at Amnesty International.

[url]http://www.gistboard.com/content/equatorial-guinea-coup-amnesty-demands-retrial-7-convicted-“mend”-members[/url]

I hope my cousin is not there ooo.