PUBLIC AI Index: AFR 24/016/2005

26 August 2005

Further Information on UA 134/05 (AFR 44/009/2005, 20 May 2005) - Health concern/Fear for safety/Fear of torture

EQUATORIAL GUINEA Florencio Elá Bibang (m) ]

Felipe Esono Ntumu (m) ] Equatorial Guinea nationals

Antimo Edú (m) ]

Amnesty International has recently learned that Florencio Elá Bibang, Felipe Esono Ntumu and Antimo Edú have been abducted from Nigeria and are held incommunicado at Black Beach prison in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. They are at risk of torture or ill-treatment. Florencio Elá Bibang is suffering from hepatitis A (not diabetes as previously stated) and may not be receiving the medical care he needs.

The three men were reportedly arrested by the Nigerian authorities near the country's border with Cameroon at the end of April. They were apparently travelling to Benin in order to seek asylum there. According to reports, on 3 July the men were abducted from detention at the Army Intelligence Authority in Lagos, Nigeria, by about 15 members of the Equatorial Guinea security services, including three high ranking officers, who allegedly bribed the prison officials. The three were taken to the capital Abuja, and were transported to Malabo on a plane belonging to GEASA, a private airline from Equatorial Guinea.

Amnesty International has on several occasions been informed of the abduction by Equatorial Guinea security personnel of Equatorial Guinea refugees in neighbouring countries.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:

To the Equatorial Guinea authorities, in Spanish or your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of Florencio Elá Bibang, Felipe Esono Ntumu, and Antimo Edú, who are being held incommunicado in Black Beach prison;

- calling for Florencio Elá Bibang to be given access to the specific medical care he requires and for all three men to be granted access to a lawyer, to their relatives and to any necessary medical care;

- urging that they be held in conditions which conform to international law and standards for the treatment of prisoners, including the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment;

- expressing concern that the three were illegally removed from prison in Nigeria;

- urging the authorities to put a stop to the practice of abducting Equatorial Guinea citizens from abroad;

- calling for those who carried out the abduction to be brought to justice;

- asking the authorities to release the three men immediately, unless they are charged with a recognisably criminal offence.

To the Nigerian authorities, in English or your own language:

- asking the authorities to carry out an independent and impartial investigation into the alleged abduction of the three men from the Army Intelligence Authority in Lagos, to make its findings public, and to bring those responsible to justice.

APPEALS TO:

Equatorial Guinea (Please note that faxes may be switched off outside office hours: GMT +1)

President

General Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Presidente de la República

Gabinete del Presidente de la República

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: + 240 09 3313/ 3334

Salutation: Su Excelencia/Your Excellency

Minister of Justice

Sr. Don Angel Masié Mibuy

Ministro de Justicia y Culto

Ministerio de Justicia y Culto

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: + 240 09 2126

Salutation: Sr. Ministro/Dear Minister

Attorney General

Sr. Don José Oló Obono

Fiscal General de la República

Fiscalía General de la República

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: + 240 09 1338

Salutation: Sr Fiscal/ Dear Attorney General

Nigeria

Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

Chief Bayo Ojo

Attorney-General’s Chambers

Federal Secretariat Complex

10th floor, Shehu Shagari Way

PMB 192 Abuja, Nigeria

Fax: + 234 9 5235208

Salutation: Your Excellency

COPIES TO:

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Sr Don Pastor Micha Ondo Bile

Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores

Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: + 240 09 3132/ 2320

President of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission

Sr Don Salomón Nguema Owono

Presidente de la Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo y de la

Comisión de Derechos Humanos de la Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo

Avenida de la Independencia s/n, Apartado 51, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Fax: + 240 09 3313

and to diplomatic representatives of Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 7 October 2005.