Colonel R.S.B Bello-Fadile, former director of the army's legal services, was one of those charged with involvement in an alleged coup plot to overthrow the military government on 1 March 1995 (Reuters 6 June 1995; NTA Television 1 Oct. 1995).

Considered to be one of the "principal actors", Colonel R. Bello-Fadile was convicted of conspiracy and treason by a special military tribunal (NTA Television 1 Oct. 1995). He was sentenced to death (West Africa 23-29 Oct. 1995, 1639).

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch/Africa were particularly concerned that those convicted of treason, including colonel R.S.B. Bello-Fadile, may face the death penalty after an unfair trial (AI 16 June 1995, 1; HRW/Africa June 1995). furthermore, according to Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, "there were widespread and credible reports that military interrogators beat and nearly tortured to death detained coup plots suspects, including colonels Lawan Gwadabe and R.S. Bello-Fadile" (1996, 198).

Colonel R. Bello-Fadile's sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment (The Guardian 21 Oct. 1995; West Africa 23-29 Oct. 1995, 1639).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

Amnesty International. 16 June 1995. Urgent Action: Nigeria: 18 Armed Officers and Five Civilians on Trial for Treason, Including: Brigadier-General Lawan Gwadabe, 46, GOC 23rd Armoured Brigade; Colonel R.S.B. Bello-Fadile, Director of Legal Services, Defence Headquarters; Lieutenant-Colonel Happy Kefas Bulu, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; Akinloye, a Former Major in Military Intelligence Alhaji Sanusi Mato, Brother-in-Law to Lawon Gwadabe. (AI Index: AFR 44/06/95). London: Amnesty International.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practice for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

The Guardian. 21 October 1995. David Pallister. "Nigerian 'Coup' Defendants Tortured, Says Smuggled Letter." (NEXIS)

Human Rights (HRW)/Africa. 29 June 1995. Letter to General Sani Abacha, Head of State, Commander in Chief and Minister of Defence. New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa.

NTA Television [Lagos, in English] 1 October 1995. "Nigeria; Special Military Tribunal Convicts 43 of Involvement in Coup Plot: TV Broadcast." (BBC Summary 4 Oct. 1995/ NEXIS)

Reuters. 6 June 1995. BC Cycle James Jukwey. "Fate of Former Nigerian Rulers Still Uncertain." (NEXIS

West Africa. 23-29 October 1995. Bola Olowo. "Nigeria: Mercy for Coup Plotters. Obasanjo Gets 15 Years as Yar'Adua Survives the Hangman."

Amnesty International. 16 June 1995. Urgent Action: Nigeria: 18 Armed Officers and Five Civilians on Trial for Treason, Including: Brigadier-General Lawan Gwadabe, 46, GOC 23rd Armoured Brigade; Colonel R.S.B. Bello-Fadile, Director of Legal Services, Defence Headquarters; Lieutenant-Colonel Happy Kefas Bulu, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna; Akinloye, a Former Major in Military Intelligence Alhaji Sanusi Mato, Brother-in-Law to Lawon Gwadabe. (AI Index: AFR 44/06/95). London: Amnesty International, pp. 1-2.

The Guardian. 21 October 1995. David Pallister. "Nigerian 'Coup' Defendants Tortured, Says Smuggled Letter." (NEXIS)

Human Rights (HRW)/Africa. 29 June 1995. Letter to General Sani Abacha, Head of State, Commander in Chief and Minister of Defence. New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa, pp. 1-2.

NTA Television [Lagos in English] 1 October 1995. "Nigeria; Special Military Tribunal Convicts 43 of Involvement in Coup Plot: TV Broadcast."(BBC Summary 4 Oct. 1995/NEXIS)

Reuters. 6 June 1995. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Fate of Former Nigerian Rulers Still Uncertain." (NEXIS

West Africa. 23-29 October 1995. Bola Olowo. "Nigeria: Mercy for Coup Plotters. Obasanjo Gets 15 Years as Yar'Adua Survives the Hangman," pp. 1639-40.