On 5 June 1995 the treason trial opened in Lagos of 23 people charged with involvement in an alleged coup plot. AI fears that they may be sentenced to death after secret, grossly unfair trials and may be executed without tight of appeal to a higher or independent jurisdiction. The government has stated that the trial will end by 30 June, precluding any possibility of serious consideration of the evidence. The defendants were given only until 7 June to examine the charges against them.
