Breaking News: Lt General Oladipo Diya, Abacha's Ex-Chief of Staff, Dies at 79 - Legit Reporters
Breaking News: Lt General Oladipo Diya, Abacha's Ex-Chief of Staff, Dies at 79 - Legit Reporters
Lt-General Oladipo Diya (Rtd), a former Chief of General Staff (CGS) to the former head of state Sani Abacha, is dead.
General Diya, as he was popularly known, died in the early hours of Sunday, March 26.
His death was disclosed in a statement on behalf of the family by Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, The Nation reported.
“On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; We announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband, father, grandfather, brother, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni,” the statement quoted by TheCable reads.
“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. “Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.”
Who is Lt General Oladipo Diya?
Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna and fought during the Civil War.
The deceased later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree.
He proceeded to Law School where he was called to the bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Diya and the alleged plan to unseat Abacha Diya served as the chief of general staff and defacto second in command to former head of state Sani Abacha between 1994 and 1997.
He was arrested and sentenced to death for alleged treason in 1997; he was accused of planning a trumped-up coup to unseat Abacha.
Diya was tried in a military tribunal where he was given the death penalty.
Abacha, however, died before Diya’s execution date and the administration of Abdulsalami Abubakar commuted the sentence and the general was released.
