By James Rupert
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, May 8, 1998; Page A40

ABUJA, Nigeria, May 7—Nigeria, which has been roundly criticized on human rights issues, said this week that it has freed 142 prisoners on orders of the country's military ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha. Those freed include four journalists but few other political prisoners, Nigerian newspapers said.

Since shortly after Abacha seized control of sub-Saharan Africa's most populous nation in 1993, his government has been condemned by foreign governments, human rights groups and the U.N. Human Rights Commission for jailing politicians, journalists and democracy activists. Political tension has been heightened this year as a long-promised transition to civilian rule has produced Abacha as the only candidate for president.

In November, Abacha announced that his government would "grant amnesty to [those persons detained without trial] whose release would constitute no further impediment to the peace and security of our country." On Wednesday, Interior Minister Bashir Dalhatu named 142 prisoners who he said had been freed in fulfillment of Abacha's promise.

Dalhatu said they included people jailed without trial for longer than the sentences they would have served had they been tried and convicted. Others were prisoners over age 60 who were serving life terms. "It is the wish of the government that all those released will be reintegrated into the society and endeavor to make positive contributions to the . . . development of the country," Dalhatu told reporters.

The freed journalists are Muhammad Amadu and Soji Omotunde of the newspaper African Concord; Babafemi Ojudu of The News; and Onome Osifo-Whiskey of Tell magazine. They were arrested between July and November of last year after their publications printed articles critical of Abacha. Also freed was Ogaga Ifowodo of the Civil Liberties Organization, a Nigerian human rights group.

Human rights organizations in Nigeria and abroad welcomed the releases, particularly of prisoners who have never faced trial, but said the move does not substantially mitigate human rights abuse here. The London-based human rights group Amnesty International said that Nigerian officials continue to deny there are any political prisoners here and that "the release of uncharged detainees, while welcome, does not therefore suggest any change of policy with regard to human rights."

Indeed, as some prisoners have been freed in recent days, the government has been arresting political opponents in southwestern Nigeria, following anti-government riots last week in the city of Ibadan. Moreover, a secret military tribunal last week sentenced six army officers to die after they were convicted of plotting a coup against Abacha. Church leaders and traditional tribal rulers have begged Abacha to commute the sentences, and authorities say he will decide soon.

Abacha became a target of human rights criticism soon after seizing power, when he arrested businessman Moshood Abiola in 1994 on charges that he had claimed to be the legal ruler of Nigeria. Abiola had, by all evidence, won a presidential election in 1993 that was subsequently annulled by the military government of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Abacha's predecessor. Abiola remains jailed without trial.

In 1995, Abacha allowed the execution of nine environmental and political activists, including writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, after they were convicted of murder by a military-led tribunal whose proceedings were widely criticized as unfair. In that year, too, a secret military court convicted prominent Abacha rivals of taking part in a coup attempt.

Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Commission condemned Nigeria as a result of a harsh report issued by U.N. special investigator Soli Jehangir Sorabjee, now attorney general of India. Sorabjee said that arbitrary arrests, mistreatment of prisoners, killings by police and corrupted courts combine to ensure that "the rule of law does not prevail in Nigeria."

Nigerian police have arrested several prominent political figures since Friday, when youths protesting government policies clashed with police in Ibadan and burned buildings owned by politicians who back Abacha. Those held include the regional leaders of two democracy groups, United Action for Democracy and the Campaign for Democracy.