Nigeria's then-military regime sparked global outrage
after convicting Mr Saro-Wiwa of murder and hanging
him.
The West African state's main human rights body said
his trial was "deeply flawed", and he should be
pardoned.
Mr Saro-Wiwa led mass protests against oil pollution in
Nigeria's Ogoniland.
The protests were seen as a major threat to then-military
ruler Gen Sani Abacha, and oil giant Shell.
Military rule ended in Nigeria, Africa's most populous
state and biggest oil producer, in 1999.
after convicting Mr Saro-Wiwa of murder and hanging
him.
The West African state's main human rights body said
his trial was "deeply flawed", and he should be
pardoned.
Mr Saro-Wiwa led mass protests against oil pollution in
Nigeria's Ogoniland.
The protests were seen as a major threat to then-military
ruler Gen Sani Abacha, and oil giant Shell.
Military rule ended in Nigeria, Africa's most populous
state and biggest oil producer, in 1999.
The head of the government-appointed Nigerian Human
Rights Commission Chidi Odinkalu said there was no
doubt Ken Saro-Wiwa's trial was "deeply flawed" and
"unsafe".
A posthumous pardon was the only way to restore the
integrity of the state which "breached its own laws to
procure a killing", he added, the AFP news agency
reports.
Pollution art bus seized
The main events to commemorate Mr Saro-Wiwa's death
- including a "justice walk" - are taking place in the
main oil city, Port Harcourt.
Nigeria's port authorities have refused to release a metal
bus, shipped from the UK, which was to have been part
of the commemorations because they regarded its
message as highly political, our reporter adds.
It had written on it Mr Saro-Wiwa's famous phrase: "I
accuse the oil companies of committing genocide."
Suzanne Dhaliwal from campaign group Action Soro-
Wiwa condemned the seizure of the bus.
"We are still seeing the same attitudes to the freedom of
expression that were there 20 years ago," she said.
The bus is an artwork of UK-based Nigerian artist Sokari
Douglas Camp, and was done about a decade ago.
It was commissioned by campaign groups, including
Platform and Amnesty International, to show solidarity
with Nigerians who are still affected by oil pollution.
Last week, Amnesty and the Centre for Environment,
Human Rights and Development accused Shell of making
false claims about the extent of its clean-up operations
in Nigeria .
In a report, they said several sites Shell claimed to have
had cleaned up were still polluted. Shell said that it
disagreed with their findings.
Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists were hanged
after a secret trial which saw them being convicted of
murdering four traditional leaders.
They denied the charge, and said they were framed.
The executions led to Nigeria's temporary suspension
from the Commonwealth.
Rights Commission Chidi Odinkalu said there was no
doubt Ken Saro-Wiwa's trial was "deeply flawed" and
"unsafe".
A posthumous pardon was the only way to restore the
integrity of the state which "breached its own laws to
procure a killing", he added, the AFP news agency
reports.
Pollution art bus seized
The main events to commemorate Mr Saro-Wiwa's death
- including a "justice walk" - are taking place in the
main oil city, Port Harcourt.
Nigeria's port authorities have refused to release a metal
bus, shipped from the UK, which was to have been part
of the commemorations because they regarded its
message as highly political, our reporter adds.
It had written on it Mr Saro-Wiwa's famous phrase: "I
accuse the oil companies of committing genocide."
Suzanne Dhaliwal from campaign group Action Soro-
Wiwa condemned the seizure of the bus.
"We are still seeing the same attitudes to the freedom of
expression that were there 20 years ago," she said.
The bus is an artwork of UK-based Nigerian artist Sokari
Douglas Camp, and was done about a decade ago.
It was commissioned by campaign groups, including
Platform and Amnesty International, to show solidarity
with Nigerians who are still affected by oil pollution.
Last week, Amnesty and the Centre for Environment,
Human Rights and Development accused Shell of making
false claims about the extent of its clean-up operations
in Nigeria .
In a report, they said several sites Shell claimed to have
had cleaned up were still polluted. Shell said that it
disagreed with their findings.
Mr Saro-Wiwa and eight other activists were hanged
after a secret trial which saw them being convicted of
murdering four traditional leaders.
They denied the charge, and said they were framed.
The executions led to Nigeria's temporary suspension
from the Commonwealth.
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