Nigerian Military Leader Moves to Consolidate Power

LAGOS, Nigeria —  Flexing his muscles after defeating a pro-democracy strike, Nigeria’s army ruler on Tuesday banned three newspaper groups, made it easier to keep opponents jailed and decreed that his regime has absolute power.

Thousands of Nigerian oil workers ended a two-month strike Monday, caving in to the military government of Gen. Sani Abacha.

They went on strike to demand Abacha surrender power to Moshood K.O. Abiola, widely believed to have won the annulled 1993 presidential election. Abiola is in jail awaiting trial on treason charges.

Abacha closed three newspaper and magazine groups, including the most influential, the Guardian of Lagos. The others are Concord, which Abiola owns, and Punch.

One decree sets Abacha above the courts, denying them any jurisdiction over his military government.

Another decree allows people to be detained for three months without being charged. Abacha appears intent on keeping jailed the dozens of human rights activists, labor leaders and pro-democracy politicians arrested in the past few weeks.

The Medical Assn. of Nigeria said Abiola, who was arrested June 23, is critically ill, and threatened to take “exceptional measures” if he is not freed by Saturday.