Nigeria: Update to NGA30594 of 27 November 1998 on the fate of those said to be involved in the alleged December 1997 coup plot
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA31232.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Update to NGA30594 of 27 November 1998 on the fate of those said to be involved in the alleged December 1997 coup plot, 1 February 1999, NGA31232.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5c10.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Chief Tokoya, who was one of thirteen suspects acquitted of involvement in the alleged December 1997 coup plot, claimed in September 1998 that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (former chief security officer to Abacha) and Ismaila Gwarzo (former national security advisor to Abacha) bore responsibility for much of the "torture, killing and wanton looting" that occurred during Abacha's rule (Post Express 22 Sept. 1998). On 30 October 1998 Post Express reported that Mustapha was under investigation and had been detained after his house was searched and ammunition allegedly found. On 28 November 1998 Post Express reported that Mustapha and "Colonel Frank Omenka, the former head of the security group at the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), and Brigadier-General Sabo Mohammed, the former director of the intelligence outfit are being questioned over their roles in the December 21 1997 alleged coup attempt." However, on 25 November Post Express also reported a denial by General Abubakar that Mustapha was under trial with Abubakar stating "there was no special military tribunal trying anybody." Nevertheless, on 26 January 1999 Post Express reported on appeals from Mustapha's family for his release. In January 1999, the father of Major-General Abdulkarim Adisa drew attention to his son's continued detention and "charged the government to either order the re-trial of the coup convicts or release them in the face of Major Mustapha's reported confessional statement" (Post Express 5 Jan. 1999). The Research Directorate could find no reports of a confession from Mustapha in the sources consulted.
Ex-Lieutenant Colonel Olu Akinyode [Akiode] died in Makurdi prison on 28 December 1998 (Post Express 1 Jan. 1999; Vanguard 1 Jan. 1999; Guardian 31 Dec. 1998). He was serving a 25 year sentence, which had been commuted from a death sentence, after being convicted for participation in an alleged coup plot the year before (ibid.; Panafrican News Agency 31 Dec. 1998). It was also reported that he was serving a 20 year sentence (1 Jan. 1999; Panafrican News Agency 10 July 1998), while Panafrican News Agency reported on 31 December 1998 that others convicted in the alleged coup plot were still in prison. The cause of Akinyode's death was not disclosed (ibid.) but according to Vanguard, his family "allege[d] foul play" with his son claiming that he "was in good health" during a visit the son had made three weeks earlier (1 Jan. 1999).
The father of Niran Malaolu - who was editor of The Diet and is now serving a 15 year sentence for his alleged participation in the December 1997 coup - also spoke out about his son's continued detention and "expressed fears over Niran's safety" (Nigeria Media Monitor 18 Jan. 1999). This follows an 18 December 1998 report by Post Express on speculations that he would be released before the end of that year. "The Chief Press Secretary to the Head of State...said that the head of state is concerned about the case of Malaolu and other journalists that might still be in detention" (ibid.). However, Malaolu's wife reported in an interview with Nigeria Media Monitor that he was suffering from typhoid and ill-treatment in prison; that he had been refused access to an eye specialist; and that he "has been in solitary confinement since he got to the place" (21 Dec. 1998).
Vanguard reported on 28 December 1998 that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi called on President Abubakar" to revisit the conviction of Major-General Abdulkarim Adisa and others who were convicted this year for a coup plot uncovered last December."
On 28 December 1998 Post Express reported on the promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel of Major Olukayode Keshinro, who was an aid to Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya. Keshinro had also been a suspect in the alleged coup plot. Major J.R. Apulu, another suspect, was also promoted (ibid.).
On 28 October 1998 P.M. News reported that Colonel Kemi Peters, a former aide to General Diya, is "now being court-martialled by the Nigerian army," after being arrested at Murtala Mohammed Airport trying to re-enter Nigeria. His name had been linked with the alleged coup plot in December 1997 (ibid.).
Further information could not be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, on those reported arrested in NGA30594.E of 27 November 1998, but whose conditions or whereabouts were unknown.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Guardian [Lagos]. 31 December 1998. "Col. Akiode Dies in Prison." [Internet]
Nigeria Media Monitor [Lagos]. 18 January 1999. "Family Asks Abubakar to Free Malaolu." [Internet]
_____. 21 December 1998. "Malaolu's Wife Speaks." [Internet]
Panafrican News Agency. 31 December 1998. "Nigeria; Nigerian Coup Convict Dies in Prison." (NEXIS)
_____. 10 July 1998. Paul Ejime. "Nigeria; Nigerian Coup Plotters Get Reprieve." (NEXIS)
P.M. News [Lagos]. 28 October 1998. Tunji Wusu. "Nigeria; Coup Suspect Arrested." (NEXIS/Africa News)
Post Express [Lagos]. 26 January 1999. John Alechenu. "Mustapha's Family Appeals to Abubakar." [Internet]
_____. 5 January 1999. "Adisa's Father Worried Over Son's Health." [Internet]
_____. 1 January 1999. Chris Onuorah and Philip Nwosu. "Akinyode, Coup Convict, Dies in Prison." [Internet]
_____. 28 December 1998. Philip Nwosu. "Mass Promotion in Armed Forces." [Internet]
_____. 18 December 1998. Josiah Emerole. "Diet Editor May Be Released Soon." [Internet]
_____. 28 November 1998. Philip Nowsu. "Abacha (Nig) Plc Powershift Should Not Be On Platter of Gold - Okilo Mustapha, Omenka Under Probe Over Diya Coup." [Internet]
_____. 25 November 1998. Philip Nwosu. "Looting of Treasury Abacha Family For Trial Soon." [Internet]
_____. 30 October 1998. Bassey Inyang and Kolade Adeyemi. "Mustapha in Custody After Search of His Houses." [Internet]
_____. 22 September 1998. Kenneth Ugbechie. "How Gwarzo, Mustapha, Others Manipulated Abacha." [Internet]
Vanguard [Apapa]. 1 January 1999. Emma Nnadozie. "Akinyode Family Alleges Foul Play." [Internet]
_____. 28 December 1998. Gbenga Olarinoye. "Appeal Court President Pleads for Adisa, Others." [Internet]
