General (rtd.) Jeremaih Timbut Useni ((16 February 1943 – 23 January 2025) alias Jerry Boy, who answered the final call in Paris, France, was partly a fulfilled man.
The then Head of State, Major General (rtd.) Muhammadu Buhari (82) appointed him as the Governor of Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States) in January 1984. He was there between January 1984 – August 1985. On September 12, 1985, General Ibrahim Babangida (83) GCFR appointed him Minster of Transport and Aviation while General Sani Abacha appointed him Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) between 1993 and 1998. He narrowly missed being Head of State after General Sani Abacha (September20, 1943 – June 8, 1998) died on the night of June 7, 1998. That is 27 years ago, this month.
If General (rtd.) Jeremiah Useni had become the Head of State on June 8, the course of history would have changed. He was alleged to have been among the last persons along with Group Captain Emeka Omeruah (August 14, 1943 – December 4, 2006) and who served as governor of Anambra State from 1985 to 1987 and as Minister for Information, Youth, Sport and Culture, to see General Sani Abacha, before he drove to the Guest House in The Villa where he died. Group Captain Omeruah (rtd.) was in The villa that night for the financial approval of the budget for the 16th FIFA world cup edition held in France from June 10 to July 12, 1998.
Till today, General Sani Abacha’s passage is still full of mystery.
All that is known is that the Palestine Liberation Organisation, Leader, Yasser Arafat (August 1929- 11 November 2004), flew to Abuja on Sunday, June 7, and he invited General Sani Abacha to a meeting of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to hold in Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasso on Monday, June 8. The meeting was to decide on the internal crisis that rocked the OAU. In addition, President Blaise Compaore (74) of Burkina Fasso, was to take over the leadership of OAU from President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe on Monday June 8.
General Sani Abacha (September 20, 1943 – June 8, 1998) declined to attend the meeting and instead, he instructed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Gidado Idris GCON (March 15, 1935 – December 15, 2017), who was also the Head of The Cabinet Secretariat to summon a meeting of the Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) for that week.
Part of the schedule of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation at that time was also to serve as the Secretary to the National Council of States, Secretary to the Federal Executive Council, Secretary of the Provisional Ruling Council, Secretary of the Security Council and head of the staff of the then State House. The Villa at that time had no Permanent Secretary or Chief of Staff. It was under the office of the Principal Secretary to the head of State.
The Provisional Ruling Council (PRC) was summoned to decide on the report of General Victor Samuel Leonard Malu (rtd.) (January 15, 1947 – October 9, 2017), who was then the Commander of the Lagos Garrison.
At that time, the following were members of the Provisional Ruling Council, General Abdusalam Abubakar, who was the Chief of Defence Staff and Rear Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, who was the chief of Naval Staff. Others were Air Vice-Marshal Adamu Musa Daggash (Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna), Chief of Army Staff – Maj. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, Chief of Air Staff – Air Vice Marshall Nsikak Eduok, Rear Admiral Jubril Ayinla, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Coomassie, Lt. Gen. Jeremiah Useni (Minister of the Federal Capital Territory) Commandant, Command and Staff College and Maj. Gen. John Inienger, Commandant, National War College, Abuja.
Others were Maj. Gen. Chris Abutu Garuba, Commandant, Nigeria Defence Academy Kaduna – Brigadier Gen. Bashir Magashi, Maj. Gen. Abdullahi Muktar – General Officer Commanding 1st Division at Kaduna, GOC 2nd Division (Ibadan) – Brig. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo, GOC 3rd Division (Jos) – Brig. Gen. Peter Shaa, GOC 82nd Division (Enugu) – Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola, Commander, Lagos Garrison – Maj. Gen. Victor Malu, Flag Officer commanding Western Naval Command – Rear Admiral Rufus Eyitayo, Flag Officer commanding Eastern Naval Command – Commodore Victor Ombu, Tactical Command (Benue) – Air Commodore Emmanuel Edem Training Command, Lagos Commander of Ecomog Forces – Air Vice Marshal G.Y. Kontagora, Representing Defence Headquarters, Lagos – Maj. Gen. Timothy Shelpidi Representing Defence HQ, Lagos – Air Commodore Ibrahim Musa, Representing Defence HQ, Lagos – Brig. Gen. Muftau Balogun, Representing Defence HQ, Lagos – Commodore Taiwo Odedina, Representing Defence HQ, Lagos – Naval Captain Anthony Oguguo, Representing Defence HQ, Lagos – Air Commodore Cannis Uwenwaliri, Brig. Gen. Patrick Aziza (Minister of Communications) and Lt. Gen. Mohammed B. Haladu.
On Tuesday, April 28, 1998, General Malu’s Tribunal sentenced General Diya and others to death. Those sentenced to death were Lieutenant-General Oladipo Diya, former Vice Chairman, Provisional Ruling Council, and Chief of General Staff; Major General Abdulkareem Adisa, former Minister of Works and Housing; Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, former Minister of Communications; Major Seun Fadipe, Chief Security Officer to Diya; Colonel Olu Akiode, former Military Assistant to General Olanrewaju and a civil engineer, Bola Adebanjo, an associate of Diya.
Four of the accused persons were convicted of “information gathering” and implication in the alleged coup plot, and sentenced to life imprisonment. They were Colonel Edwin Jando, Mr. Isaiah Adebowale, Mr. Niran Malaolu (Editor of Diet Newspaper) and Mrs. Shola Soile.
Two of the accused persons were convicted of theft and sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment: Lieutenant-Colonel I.E. Yakasai and Major Biliaminu Mohammed. Colonel Yakubu Bako were convicted for illegal importation of fire arms and was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Three were convicted of theft and handling of stolen goods. They were sentenced to various prison terms: Ojeniyi Adeola (two years), Michael Maidamino (five years) and Galadima Tanko (two years). The Tribunal acquitted 14 persons on unspecified charges: Major Yusuf Isiaku, Navy Captain B.A. Shoetan, Warrant Officer Coker Oladosu, Staff Sergeant Moses Eni, Corporal I. Kontagora, Corporal Eddy Egbunu, Bawa Machido, Omatimehin Abimbola, Halima Bawa (female who was never shackled), Eliyasu Mohammed, Professor Femi Odekunle, Chief Yomi Tokoya, Mr. Musa Adede (a businessman) and Ibrahim Moussa Orgar. Released uncharged on April 20, 1998: Colonel Daniel Akintonde, former Military Governor of Ogun State and Colonel Emmanuel Shoda.
In sentencing the officers, General Victor Malu said there was overwhelming evidence proving Diya had amassed a small army of loyal troops by the time his plot to overthrow the regime was discovered. Malu, dismissed Diya’s claims of innocence.
“The findings of the Tribunal were that he presided over and actively participated in several meetings in which the coup was discussed.” Malu said. Those sentenced pleaded not guilty and insisted that the General Malu’s report was biased.
All of them have since been pardoned by President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR (82) and their pardon has been published in the Federal Government Gazette including General Diya and Major General (rtd.) Tajudeen Olanrewaju alias Jasper.
When General Sani Abacha GCFR (September 20, 1943 – 8 June 1998) summoned for the PRC meeting, it was to decide on the General Malu’s report, either to confirm or to reject the report. If the PRC had confirmed the report, the officers found guilty would have been executed that week. Fate intervened on the issue.
To be continued tomorrow.
Teniola is a former Director in the Presidency.
