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Nigeria/Africa Masterweb News Report
How
they killed Abiola, by Zadok lHis
security officer in custody
By
Kayode Matthew & Lemmy Ughegbe, Vanguard ABUJA — THE last moments of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola were relived
publicly for the first time yesterday by the man who should know: Assistant
Superintendent of Police (ASP) Theodore Bethnel Zadok, who for the two years
preceding the chief’s death was in charge of his security and welfare in
government custody. He was testifying at the Oputa panel sitting in Abuja where former DMI boss,
Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo also alleged massive looting of public funds by top
officials of the Abdulsalami Abubakar. Zadok in his evidence-in-chief at the hearing of the petition by Abiola’s
first son, Kola and physician, Dr. Ore Falomo, related how he was apparently
handed away from Chief Abiola, and by the time he returned to him, he had been
offered tea, only to be a few minutes thereafter. Reading from a prepared text, the police officer said: "I was posted to
head the detention base of Chief M. K. O. Abiola with about thirteen (13) body
guards under me. and since the day I took over the duties of the detention camp
of Chief M. K. O. Abiola I was responsible for collecting the sum of N800,000
(Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) quarterly from Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to the
commissioner of police FCT command Abuja for his feeding. That is three times a
day subject to what the wanted to eat. I also took care of his health by seeing
the Doctor any time he complained of any illness. In view of this he never ate
any food or drink any thing without me tasting it first before giving it to him
to eat or drink. "I always collected some money from the Chief Security Officer Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha to buy toiletry fruit drinks, bedding and water. "The Chief Security Officer Major hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to give
Chief MKO Abiola Koran and Bible for reading and I used to collect some money
from the Chief Security Officer to buy some newspapers and magazines for the
chief to read, and also give the chief some plain sheets for anything he might
wish to write. My lord, Chief MKO Abiola never believed that I was a Security
man who came to guide him but a son who came to take care of his father. I will
like to support this statement with a written note written to me by Chief MKO
Abiola. "Before General Oladipo Diya’s coup attempt, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha,
on the 10th of December, 1997 ordered me to take Chief MKO Abiola to
any safe place, preferably the commissioner of police guest house at Wuse. And
after the said failed coup attempt Major hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to move
Chief MKO Abiola from the commissioner’s guest house to Kado Housing Estate
popularly known as Jeremiah Useni Housing Estate Kado. "On the 8th day of June 1998 the day the Head of State
General Sani Abacha died the chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha
ordered me along with Lt. Ikilama to move Chief MKO Abiola from Kado Housing
Estate to Gado Nasko Barracks and from there all the 13 body guards attached to
me were withdrawn except the driver and leaving the soldiers of the Guards
Brigade to take over the guard. But I was still left behind to be bringing food to Chief MKO Abiola as usual
from the police officers mess Wuse Zone 7. Chief MKO Abiola was informed of the
death of General Sani Abacha and the appointment of General Abdulsalami Abubakar
as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief. he wrote letters to general
Abdulsalami Abubakar and the service Chiefs gave them to me to Photostat them
for him. He gave me some copies to give to Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and passed
the rest to the rest to the respective owners. After the expiration of the
second quarter allocation of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand naira) I
approached Major A. S. Aliyu Chief Security Officer to general Abdulsalami
Abubakar to collect the money for the next quarter he only told me he had heard
me. "On the day in question, the 7th Day of July 1998 at about
11.30hrs, the Chief Security Officer to general Abdulsalami Abubakar Major A. S.
Aliyu called me on the radio set, asking me to see him his office. I then
proceeded in his office and he instructed me to bring Chief MKO Abiola to Aguda
House for an interview to be hold by 1300 hrs. "I then went back to the base and informed Chief MKO Abiola of the
interview and he asked me whether Major Hamza Al- Mustapha was aware of the said
interview, I told him didn’t know because Major Hamza Al-Mustapha was busy
handing and taking over but I would see if I could locate him to inform him. "He asked me to bring his dresses which he would wear and also asked me
to give him 30 minutes to enable him get dressed. At about 1230hrs the Chief
Security Officer to general Abdulsalami Abubakar Major A. S. Aliyu came to the
base. To the best of my knowledge, that was the first time he knew that place,
wanting to know if we were ready and I replied him almost ready. As we opened
the door the Chief was already waiting for us. Together we went out and headed
to Aguda House, venue of the Interview. "Before we all left the base, chief MKO Abiola was in sound and healthy
condition. He did not complain to me of any illness. About 100 metres from the
door stand of the Aguda House, the controller from the control room called me on
the radio set and said, I quote, "30 BRAVO your LOG I answered ALFA GOLFF
UNIFORM DELTA ALFA, HOTEL. And he said MAIG SERIA GOLFF from the OSCAR FOSTRO
FOSTRO OF CHALIE OSCA GOLFF SERIA you should ROMEO PAPA TANGO to see the subject
INDIA MIKE MIKE I answered RECEIVED." Meaning 2i/c Prescort your present location. I answered Aguda House and he
gave the message from the office of the Chief of General Staff and that you
should see the Chief of general Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbhe immediately please
and I answered noted please. "As we arrived at the Aguda House door step, I led Chief MKO Abiola
inside the house and I took permission from the Chief Security Officer to
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Major A. S. Aliyu in whose custody I left Chief
MKO Abiola. "He asked me to use his vehicle, leaving my vehicle at the door step
where it was packed. I then took his vehicle as entrusted and left to see the
Chief of General Staff Admiral Mike Akhigbe at about 1310hrs and I came back
from seeing Admiral Mike Akhigbe at about 1350hrs, only to discover that my
vehicle was not there at the packing spot. On arrival, I saw one of my Body
Guards Sunday Pada standing by the side of the door. I asked him where they had
gone. He replied me they were inside and that the Chief Security Office only
sent my vehicle to Aso-Clinic and as I was about to enter the room, I met with
the Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu who told me that Chief MKO Abiola
was not feeling fine and after taking a cup of tea he coughed and feel down. "I quickly went inside and I saw Chief MKO Abiola lying on the floor
facing down. I called him. for the first time he answered, and I lifted him up
and turned him upside and called him again for the second time he did not
answer. At that time doctor Sadiq Sani Wali from Aso Clinic arrived and about
examining the chief. I told him we should rush the Chief to the clinic for
proper treatment. Myself, the Chief Security Officer, Major A. S. Aliyu, Doctor
Sadiq Sani Wali and the two white men standing lifted Chief MKO Abiola into my
vehicle outside for onward movement to Aso-clinic. Before getting to Aso-Clinic I saw Dr. Sadiq Sani Wali pressing his (Abiola’s)
stomach up and down a kind of resuscitating him. As we arrived the clinic, Chief
M.K.O. Abiola was rushed to the Emergency Room where I stood by with the doctors
including the two white men and the Chief Security Officer Major Aliyu until
when Dr. Sadiq Sani Wali later confirmed to us that Chief M.K.O Abiola was dead. "We came out of the Emergency Room and the Chief Security Officer Major
A. S. Aliyu phoned the villa, I heard him saying to the ADC please, connect me
to the Head of State I have an important message for him. For about three
minutes they continued the discussion with the Head of State while he was moving
towards his vehicle outside. So I didn’t hear what he was discussing with the
Head of State after the phone we both left for villa, "The questions to ask are: "The questions are for the Chief Security Officer to General Abdulsalam
Abubakar; Major Aliyu to answer. And I want to testify before this Honourable
Commission that on the 6th day of July 1998 at about 2200hrs Kola
Abiola the son to late Chief M.K.O. Abiola his step mother; and about three of
his sisters were with their father at Aguda House until 0130hrs of 7th
July, 1998. I want to say categorically here that his father Chief M.K.O. Abiola
was in a sound and healthy condition. "Based on the statement made to the Commission by Femi Falana on the 5th
day of July 2001 that Chief M.K.O Abiola was driven from Kano State to Abuja
where he said that the Chief fell inside the Black Maria four times before
arriving Abuja is totally false, because to the best of my knowledge Chief M.K.O
Abiola was never detained out of Abuja. "On the 28th day of July 1998, I collected from the Commander
Brigade of Guard Gado Nasko Barracks the late Chief M.K.O Abiola’s property
and handed them over to Alhaji Babagana Kingibe on the 31st day of
July, 1998 who ordered his orderly Sergeant Mustapha Gana to check, sign and
collect the property from me and he Babagana Kingibe made a contact call to the
family of Chief M.K.O. Abiola to come forward and collect the said property. After his evidence-in-chief, he was then cross examined by Mr. Femi Falana. Falana: You said you were not retired, you were not posted and yet you
have been on salaries. Since when have you been receiving salary without
rendering services to this station. Zadok: Since August 1 1998 on the day the personal assistant the former
Inspector General of Police Superintendent Udi informed me in the villa that two
officers from force CID Lagos were in the villa and that I should submit their
names at the gate for them to see my OC. I submitted their names. When they
entered, they told us they were taking over from us, without any written letter.
I did not know that Major Aliu was aware of it. We were moved out of the villa
without any document. Since August 1 1998 I have not worked in any police
formation. Falana: Were you close to Abiola in detention. Zadok: Yes I was close to him. Falana: What ailment did Abiola complained to your about? Zadok: He complained of his high blood pressure. Falana: You said on June 8 1998 your bodyguards were withdrawn and
soldiers took over the protection of Abiola. Zadok: Yes. Falana: Did he write letters that you knew of while in detention? Zadok: Yes, he wrote condolence letters to Mrs. Yar’Adua when General
Yar’Adua died. Also when General Abacha died, he wrote condolence letter to
Mrs. Abacha to be forwarded to General Abdulsalami Abubakar for vetting as he
said two heads are better than one. Falana: Do you know the contents of the letter? Zadok: No, the letters were always sealed. Falana: Is Major A.S. Aliu still in the army? Zadok: Yes. Falana: Were you with him when Commonwealth Sec. Gen. Emeka Anyaoku held
a meeting with him? Zadok: Yes I was there. They all took photograph together. Falana: Had this ever happened before? Zadok: No, it never happened before during his detention. Falana: the photograph was to let everybody know that he was hale and
hearty. Zadok: Yes. Falana: Was it to your knowledge that a foreigner was allowed to give
food or drink to a detainee in Nigeria? (Find Out You Will Not Believe Your Eyes!!<=Story Link by NMW) Zadok: To the best of my knowledge no foreigner had ever done this. It was my duty to taste any food or drink before giving it to Abiola. Falana: When Abiola was given tea to drink was the first time you never
tasted anything given to Abiola to take? Zadok: Yes it was the first time. Falana: You normally tasted food or drink before you gave it to Abiola to
prevent any harm done to your subject? Zadok: Yes. Falana: So, you were tricked to go and see Admiral Akhigbe? Zadok: Maybe. Falana: When you left Abiola with Major A.S. Aliu, you were confident
that you were leaving him in the care of a competent person. Zadok: Yes. Falana: After his death what happened to his property he left in
detention? Zadok: I have a copy of the list of his property. I handed over his
property to Ambassador Baba Gana Kingigbe who immediately called Abiola’s
family to inform them that Abiola’s property were with him and they should
come for them. Falana: US official Dickering later addressed a press conference to say
Abiola died of national cause. Zadok: Yes. Falana: Brig-Gen. Ibrahim Sabo said the day Abacha died, Bamaiyi said
Abiola must also be killed is a similar way to balance equation. Zadok: Yes, I heard it. He was asked why he did not inquire from Major Aliu who gave tea to Abiola
and he replied, "Major Aliu was the overall security office in charge of
Abiola’s detention. I did not have the gut to ask him. Who gave Abiola tea and
whether it was tasted before giving it to him. "Chief Abiola need to keep photocopies of his letters in his Bible and
Koran. I did not have the time to go through them. But if the commission
requests for them it will assist this commission greatly. At the end of Zadok’s testimony, Mr. Falana requested the commission to
order the IG to give full protection to Zadok. Gen Sabo also testified yesterday in respect of Chief Abiola’s death. Led by his counsel, Mr. Umar Shinthien, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Sabo’s
evidence ran thus: Shinttien: Brigadier-General Sabo, you told this commission in Lagos that
apart from what you said then on Chief Abiola’s death, you have more to say. Sabo: Yes I still have a lot more facts on Abiola’s death. I will also
tender some documents here before this commission, while I will take the rest
documents to Akanbi’s anti-corruption commission. Shinttien: Tell this commission other facts you know. Sabo: I said earlier that on June 8 1998 many things happened from the
sublime to the ridiculous. The sublime has to do with the death of former head
of state, General Sani Abacha while the ridiculous was on the threat to Abiola’s
life. I said in Lagos that General Ishaya Bamaiyi called me after General Abacha
called me after General Abacha death and asked me where was Chief Abiola, I said
I didn’t know, that Major Al-Mustapha was the one keeping him. General Bamaiyi
then told me don’t you think that now that General Abacha is dead, Chief
Abiola should be similarly killed to balance the equation? I looked for Major
Mustapha and told him what Bamaiyi has said. I later learnt that Bamaiyi had
told Mustapha the same thing because Mustapha told me he had been looking for me
for the same purpose. Major Mustapha in his evidence gave certain indicators on how General Abacha
died and how Chief Abiola died. He said Abacha choked, jerked and foamed before
he died Abiola also choked, jerked ,foamed and died. Sinde Bamaiyi used the word
similarly, I think Abacha’s family should be interested in this because both
died the same way. Shinttien: When General Bamaiyi told you this and Mustapha confirmed he
was told the something, what did you do? Sabo: I advised that Abiola’s location should be changed and he said he
had done that. Shinttien: Did you attend late General Abacha burial in Kano. Sabo: No I didn’t go because of the security of Abiola that was being
threatened. Shinttien: What happened after late General Abacha’s death. Sabo: After Abacha’s death, there was a lot of clamouring as to who
would succeed him. General Jeremiah Husseni was there clamouring to succeed
Abacha and there were others. Then myself, General Magashi and Bamaiyi then met
and decided that instead of deliberating on who would succeed General Abacha,
succession by hierarchy should be followed with General Abdulsalami Abubakar as
the head of state, General Bamaiyi, Chief of Defence Staff and General Magashi
as chief of army staff, this was arrived at in order to shut out any bickerings.
We then called General Abdulsalami for a meeting of the PRC. It was an
extra-ordinary PRC meeting because it was not scheduled. Shinttien: Did you inform General Abdulsalmi Abubakar of the threat to
Chief Abiola’s death? Sabo: Before General Abdulsalami Abubakar was sworn-in as head of state,
we all went to the villa where the body of the late head of state was lying and
I told General Abdulsalami that General Bamaiyi suggested that since Abacha
died, Abiola must also be killed. But General Abubakar said when they return
from Kano, we would discuss further. He refused to do anything after he came
back from Kano. I sent a message to him through AVM Idi-Musa that I wanted to
see General Abdulsalam on the same issue but he refused to see me. I passed the
information to Idi Musa that it was urgent and Idi Musa told me General Abubakar
would listen to me when he returned from South Africa. He refused to see me
until I was retired on July 10 1998, three days after Chief Abiola’s death. Shinttien: Did Major Mustapha know the whereabouts of Chief Abiola at
this time. Sabo: Mustapha did not know Abiola’s whereabouts because he was
arrested and detained. And since Mustapha was now out of the way, Abiola was
open to any other person. Shinttien: Is it normal for a detainee’s guard to be sent away and
given tea in his absence? Sabo: It is not normal and this is an indication of what happened later. Gen. Sabo also alleged massive financial misdeeds by the Abdulkareem Abubakar
government, saying: "Before General Sani Abacha’s death there were bickerings from people
including General Abdulsalami Abubakar that they were not being given any
welfare. General Abubakar accused the service chiefs that they were the ones
that had the resources but he did not have anything there was a time he asked
Ambassador Zakari Ibrahim to give him N1 million urgently but Ambassador Ibrahim
said he didn’t have the money. And when Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar became the
head of state, he was relieved of his appointment. "When General Abdulsalami came to power, he exhibited an accumulated and
accentuated thirst for money. I stumbled on some documents and video cassettes
even while in retirement. "There was the case of $40 million contributed by multinationals for
General Sani Abacha’s transmutation to civilian president. I gave the cassette
of his disclosure to help him clean the system not knowing that he would use it
to clean me out of the system because three days later I was arrested. I urge
the commission to investigate this money contributed by multinational towards
Abacha’s self-succession. "There was also the case of Engineer Buba Galadima, Director of NMA whom
General Abdulsalami Abubakar directed to release N5 billion from the NMA to the
minister through Chief Hope Ozodinma. But Galadima refused saying it was beyond
his power to do so. That same afternoon, a lorry load of soldiers invaded his
house managed him and took him to an unknown destination. He was ordered to put
in his letter of resignation so as to look as if he resigned voluntarily but he
refused and asked General Abubakar to fire him. He was fired and he was given
two hours to vacate his official quarters. "The N5 billion was to be shared like this: "1.35 to be given to
the minister, Chief Hope would be given N265 million and $18 million would be
given to General Abubakar. I have documents to prove this (He than tendered the
documents). "There is the issue of the printing of new naira denominations, of 100,
200 and 500. I shared Mustapha’s opinions on this which he explained in his
testimony that it was a booby trap for President Olusegun Obasanjo to fail. I
have 13 documents to prove this which I shall tender, before this commission. "When General Abacha was alive the idea of the printing of new naira
denominations was mooted. Three companies bided for the contract - J.B. of
Munich; Thomas & Co. Of London, and Bodous of Germany. They all submitted
their quotations. They all agreed on $30 per one thousand pieces but General
Abacha said it was too much. The agreement was not sealed before his death. When
General Abdulsalami came on board, he said it should be printed at $45 per
thousand. G & D was given the contract of printing and here was the company
reputed for tax evasion. The company has offices in Germany, Greece, Spain,
Belgium, Argentina and other places, but only has a liaison office in Nigeria.
The company evaded tax to the tune of 2 million Dutch marks in Germany. This is
the same company given the job to print the money I commenced investigations
into the activities of this company but General Abubakar ordered me to stop it.
All these were known to him. "The NTA in its news at 7 and 9 p.m. on January 11, 2001 reported that a
container load of fake naira notes was discovered in Jos and Maiduguri. This is
what I am talking about. "During Abdulsalami’s time, our soldiers in ECOMOG were not treated
well at all. General Victor Malu then ECOMOG Commander once had cause to
complain of adulterated fuel sent to them. When the contract for the supply of
food to our soldiers was changed, it was given to one lady, I will mention her
name later. When General Abacha was alive 45 dollars was approved a day for each of our
soldiers but when Gen. Abubakar came to power he increased it. But instead of
giving them the money, they were given the old rate, where is the balance? "There is the issue of parting gift to each PRC member. N1 million was
agreed as parting gift for each PRC member or 500,000 dollars. I inquired from
two PRC members later differently. I asked them jokingly that I learnt you were
all given ½ a million dollars as parting gift. Where is my own share now? But
they told me it was only 50,000 dollars. So what happened to the remaining
450,000 dollars per each PRC member times the total PRC members? Before General Abacha died, he left a foreign reserve of 9.7 billion dollars.
There are papers to show this. But Abubakar claimed that only 7.17 billion
dollars was left in the reserve what happened to the balance? This reserve that
Abacha accumulated in five years, Abdulsalami depleted if in nine months. "Eagle Square here in Abuja was being renovated yearly when General
Oseni was FCT Minister. Consultants were appointed for the renovation at N230
million. But General Abdulsalami rejected this and opted for upward review of
N2.3 billion as against N230m. "Also through 59 million dollars he siphoned from government coffers he
bought a house in London at 5 million pounds renovated it at 1 million pounds. "Before General Abacha died he approved 66 million Dutch marks for the
maintenance of Alpha jets and other aircraft. When Abubakar took over he wrote
another memo for the sum of 44,275,000 dollars for the same maintenance. I would
have wished he was here to cross check if this signature on these documents were
his. "There was also another memo from the CGS dated March 17 1999 at the
injury time of the administration. There was request for the purchase of boats
at 45 million dollars, purchase of amphibious plane at 21,747,660 dollars; and
5,000 rain coats jacket to cost 14,500,00 dollars. The normal cost of one rain
coat to pocket were from rain is 45 dollar per piece and the total cost for the
5,000 rain coats should be 2,9000 dollars. It was signed by General Abdulsalami
Abubakar to be purchased on ECOMOG issue, apart from the naval personnel that
used to transport the food items, it was later given to merchant ships. "There is the issue of Engineer Ibrahim Ali, MD of NPA. General Abubakar
called him one day and told him since General Abacha did not give you free hand
to do your duties, bring your quotation and I will give you the wherewithal to
execute it. He brought it to Abdulsalami. He met Alhaji Gidado Idris, former
Secretary to the Federation there. Abdulsalami approved it for execution but
when Ali left Abdulsalami ordered Gidado Idris to fire Ali when Gidado wanted to refuse, he told him that if he didn’t do it somebody else would do it
and that was how he was fired. Shinttien: What did all these mean with respect to Chief Abiola’s security. Sabo: All these were to show that as Chief Abiola was to show that as Chief
Abiola was in the custody of Abdulsalami, if Abiola was released, he would be
demanding for his mandate and this will be unconducive for him to loot the
country’s treasury. General Abubakar should appear before this commission to
explain ,what happens to the depletion of the economy. General Abdulsalami Abubakar set a booby trap for Obasanjo’s
administration, I am not saying this to curry favour from President Obasanjo.
Let us not deal only on the past of the late head of state. Shinttien: In what other way to your knowledge has the General Abdulsalami
Abubakar reduced the military to what it is now. Sabo: Another way which General Abdulsalami siphoned money is the task force
for the armed forces and the police. On December 31 1997, N21, 270, 292,50 was disbursed to the armed forces and
the police, I am not convinced the money was used judiciously, I have documents
to authenticate this. There is also the issue of N80m water project which was discarded by General
Abdulsalami. He re-awarded it for 20 million dollars while 10m dollars was
collected upfront. I am sure the balance was also given. I am not sure whether
the water project was executed.
(Friday, 20th July, 2001)
Masterweb Notes:-
[ Photo Left: Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola ]
Monday, June 12, 2006, marks the 13th anniversary of the annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential Election reportedly being won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola. June 12 is a giant
landmark in the Nigerian history, because without it and the struggle for its revalidation, we will not have been enjoying the democracy that we now have. Abiola was arrested and put
in jail upon declaring himself president. He died on Tuesday, July 7, 1998 just hours before he was due to be released from prison.. Chief Abiola paid for Nigerian democracy with his
life. May his soul rest in peace. Do we really have true democracy now? If not, then stand up and demand this constitutional right. Nigeria belongs to the people not the army, police, or
her leaders. [The 3 Month Miraculous Choronology] - Election Annulment: June 12, '93 - Death: July 7, '98 - Birth: August 24, '37. *The Sequence: June, July, Aug. See Related Link
"Abiola: A Miracle Child" below.
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