Nigerian court allows challenge to asylum for indicted ex-Liberian president News
Nigerian court allows challenge to asylum for indicted ex-Liberian president

[JURIST] The Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled that two Nigerians who were tortured and mutilated in Sierra Leone can challenge Nigeria's decision to grant asylum to former Liberian President Charles Taylor [PBS profile]. Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria in 2003 following his indictment [text] by the Special Tribunal for Sierra Leone [official website, JURIST news archive] on charges of crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law. Judge Stephen Jonah Adah ruled that the two men suffered personal injuries by torturers said to be backed by Taylor, and said that they have a legal right to attempt to see Taylor face trial. The Nigerian government, which has refused to hand over Taylor for prosecution despite US calls for Taylor's arrest [JURIST report] and has maintained that Taylor should remain in exile [JURIST report] in Nigeria, said it will appeal the decision. Reuters has more.