Presidential candidate declares himself political prisoner

Hama Amadou, a major opposition figure in Niger and a presidential candidate, has declared himself a political prisoner and is now likely to spend time leading up to the February polls in jail, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Amadou, a one-time ally of President Mahamadou Issoufou, was arrested in November for alleged complicity in a baby trafficking ring after returning from a year-long exile in France.

He has publicly denied the charges, which he says are politically motivated.