§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting between the Prime Minister and Chief Shonekan, a representative of the Nigerian military regime, on 21 September. [1209]
§ Mr. Hanley[holding answer 21 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister saw Chief Shonekan on 21 September to receive a message from General Abacha. My right hon. Friend pressed first the case for clemency for General Obasanjo and the alleged coup plotters who were at that time under sentence of death; and second for rapid progress towards civilian democratic rule in Nigeria. As a prominent businessman, Chief Shonekan was not affected by EU visa restrictions on Nigeria, which applied at that time only to military personnel and their families.