asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cause further inquiries to be made into the circumstances of the arrest and sentence within three hours on 17th February at Akoko District, Nigeria, of 82 elderly men arising out of their repudiation of the Oba of Olishua because of his alleged oppression; and why the requested transfer of these cases to magistrates of the Supreme Court was not allowed.

I have asked the Acting Governor for information and will write to my hon. Friend.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these men are now serving a sentence of a year simply because they refused to recognise the Oba of Olishua whom they accused of oppression? Does not the whole matter require very careful investigation?

The matter is receiving investigation. I do not know that I can do anything more in this matter.