Amnesty International Bermuda has assisted in the release of 20 Ogoni political prisoners in Nigeria.

And a man whose wife was released from prison after Amnesty chapters all over the world put pressure on the Nigerian military government will speak to Rotarians today.

Dapo Olorunyomi will also speak on human rights abuses in Nigeria in the Colin Horsfield Memorial Lecture at the Bermuda College tomorrow night, starting at 7 p.m. at the New Hall Lecture Theatre.

Mr. Olurunyomi is a former journalist who left Nigeria after he was accused of treason while editor of The News and the African Guardian, in Lagos.

Amnesty International actively pursued the release of Mr. Olurunyomi after he was arrested and held without charge at the Lagos airport while home on family business.

He is the winner of the 1995 International Editor of the Year Award from the World Press Review and the 1996 Press Freedom Award from the National Association of Black Journalists in the US.

Mr. Olurunyomi's visit comes on the heels of the release of the Ogoni 19 who were arrested about the same time as Ken Saro Wiwa and eight colleagues.

The Ogoni accuse the military dictatorship and Shell Oil of despoiling the environment and conducting a `reign of terror' against activists.

Saro-Wiwa, a poet, and eight Ogoni political leaders were executed for murder on November 10, 1995, despite intense pressure from Amnesty and Commonwealth countries.

Amnesty's Bermuda chapter has been part of the campaign to release the Ogoni 19 and the woman, Daughter Delosi, since 1995; local activities including a Candle Light vigil in Victoria Park in April 1996.

Upon her release Ms Delosi thanked the nine countries that campaigned on her behalf -- including Bermuda.

Amnesty collected local signatures at its campaign table in "The Walkway'' in Hamilton and received assistance from The Body Shop.

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