How Former Chief Staff, Oladipo Diya Plotted To Assassinate Abacha, Escaped Death Sentence

Donaldson Oladipo Diya according to the statement from his son Oyesinmiola Diya, was confirmed dead at the earlier hours of Sunday, March 26, 2023.

VerseNews Nigeria reports that Diya in his early career joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War in 1967 to 1970.

Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985. He became General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigeria Army in 1985.

General Oladipo Diya was Commandant, National War College (1991–1993) and then was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in 1993.

As Chief of the General Staff, he was the de facto Vice President of Nigeria during the Sani Abacha military junta from 1994 

In 1997 Diya and dissident soldiers in the military allegedly plotted to overthrow the regime of Sani Abacha.

Their plan was exposed by forces loyal to Abacha, and Diya and his cohorts were jailed.

Diya was tried in a military tribunal and was given the death penalty. Upon the untimely death of Abacha in 1998, Diya was pardoned by the late Head of State’s successor, Abdusalami Abubakar.

DON’T MISS: Former Nigeria Chief Of Staff, Oladipo Diya Confirmed Dead

Earlier on, Abacha’s loyalists had twice attempted to assassinate Diya, once at the airport and then in the streets, using bombs but were unsuccessful.

Following his release, General Diya spent most of his time attempting to recover possession of various properties seized by the government on his arrest.

There were questions on how he got the expensive properties with his salary but he gave no answer.

On 18 May 2020, General Diya lost his second wife Folashade Diya a few days to her 65th birthday

It was gathered that she died from COVID-19 complications and his first wife is said to be COVID-19 positive as well