Judge fails to attend Abiola trial

(First Edition)

ABUJA (AFP) - The trial for treason of Nigerian opposition leader Moshood Abiola, scheduled to resume at the federal high court yester day, failed to do so in the absence of a judge. Defence lawyers, Chief Abiola's family and supporters waited in court for more than two hours, but no judge appeared. Neither did the millionaire politician.

Chief Abiola was detained in June after declaring himself head of state a year after the military junta annulled a presidential election he was said, on unofficial results, to have won. Oil workers pressing for General Sani Abacha's regime to hand over power to Chief Abiola are in the ninth week of a strike.