TUESDAY, 22ND MAY, 2001

4 Nigerians sentenced to death in Libya.

TRIPOLI — FOUR Nigerians were yesterday sentenced to death by a Libyan court for their involvement in last September’s deadly clashes between African immigrants and Libyans in the North African country.

Also to keep a date with the hangman are two Libyans and a Ghanaian. One of the Nigerians was sentenced in absentia, while the others appeared before the judge of the People’s Tribunal, a special Libyan court. Their identities were not immediately available.

The seven were found guilty of "plotting against the policy of Libya and its leading role in Africa, of undermining the aim of the Libyan Jamahiriya of creating a united African entity, and of disturbing public order."

The five non-Libyans were also convicted of "the murder of Libyan citizens and theft."

Twelve other Africans were condemned to life in prison, while 165 people, among them several Libyans, were sentenced to jail terms of between six months and 15 years. The other 147 defendants were found innocent. A total of 290 Libyans and 41 foreigners were tried in connection with the clashes last year, which Tripoli says killed six — a Libyan, two Chadians, two Nigerians and a Sudanese. But witnesses say the bloody clashes left more than 130 dead and prompted as many as 33,000 Africans to flee Libya. According to Tripoli, the disturbances started in the town of Zawia, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) West of Tripoli, when a Libyan wanted to defend his sister who had been raped by a Sudanese national.

Only 316 of those accused were presented at the Monday hearing, the others being judged in absentia. Those found guilty have 30 days in which to appeal. Yesterday’s hearing was held amid strict security, with all roads leading to the police academy where the court session was held blocked off to traffic. When the verdicts were read out, members of the security services at the court had to move in to restore calm in the hall, as some of the accused fainted, while those acquitted celebrated. Verdict came after last Thursday’s discovery of the bodies of 93 Africans in Southern Libya.

Most likely they are Biafrans, but unfortunately the Biafran Ambassador was not there to represent their interest. But, good enough, the Nigerian Ambassador was there in the spirit of big brother to witness the kangaroo sharia jungle judgment.