IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor): „Information on a March 1995 coup attempt by the military, including who was involved and what happened to them and to their families [NGA22937.E]“, Dokument #1093574

Information on a March 1995 coup attempt by the military, including who was involved and what happened to them and to their families [NGA22937.E]

According to a BBC World Service report, initial reports in the Nigerian press of an attempted coup in March 1995 were downplayed by the government, despite the reported arrest of up to 300 soldiers (6 Mar. 1995).

However, several sources later reported that the Nigerian government confirmed that it had foiled an attempted coup planned for the beginning of March that had resulted in the arrest of several dozen people (AC 17 Mar. 1995, 8; ARB 26 Apr. 1995, 11794; BBC World Service 9 Mar. 1995; Radio Nigeria 10 Mar. 1995; WA 20-26 Mar. 1995, 431; AFP 10 Mar. 1995). The coup was supposed to take place on 1 March 1995 during the Eid el Fitri festival (ibid.; Radio Nigeria 10 Mar. 1995).

Initial reports on the number of people arrested ranged from 29 (ibid.), to 39 (WA 20-26 Mar. 1995, 431), to as many as 300 military personnel and civilians (AFP 9 Mar. 1995; AC 17 Mar. 1995, 8; ARB 26 Apr. 1995, 11794). Among those arrested were retired general Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (AFP 10 Mar. 1995; BBC World Service 9 Mar. 1995; WA 20-26 Mar. 1995, 431), former heads of state, General Babangida and General Olusegun Obasanjo (ibid.; AFP 9 Mar. 1995; AC 17 Mar. 1995, 8;), Brigadier Lawan Gwadabe (ibid.; WA 13-19 Mar. 1995, 377), and an editor who had published news about the coup plot and the arrests of military personnel (BBC World Service 11 Mar. 1995).

According to a BBC World Service report, three army officers wanted in connection with the coup had sought asylum in Ghana (13 Mar. 1995). In September 1995 New African published an interview with three Nigerian army officers who had escaped from Nigeria and claimed they were wanted in connection with the coup plot (Sept. 1995, 10-12).

In April 1995 the London Observer reported that between 60 and 80 soldiers were executed in connection with the coup plot, but Nigerian authorities immediately denied that any executions had taken place (The Observer 16 Apr. 1995; ARB 25 May 1995, 11831; BBC World Service 17 Apr. 1995; ibid. 16 Apr. 1995; Radio Nigeria 17 Apr. 1995; WA 24-30 Apr. 1995, 614). An unnamed diplomat later confirmed the Observer report (Africa No. 1 17 Apr. 1995).

In May 1995 New African published a report that stated the alleged coup plot was used by the military government to purge the military of individuals it thought responsible for unrest among the ranks (May 1995, 15-17). ARB reported that the Nigerian press was making similar speculations (ARB 27 June 1995, 11860). Reports of unrest in the armed forces were also published by West Africa and Africa Confidential (WA 13-19 Mar. 1996, 377-78; AC 23 June 1995, 2-4; ibid. 28 April 1995, 8).

Several sources report that a military tribunal was set up in June 1995 to try suspected coup plotters, but the exact number of those charged varies from source to source (NA Sept. 1995, 18; WA 12-18 June 1995, 906; AC 7 July 1995, 8; ARB 24 July 1995, 11982; Radio Nigeria 5 June 1995). ARB and Radio Nigeria stated that 22 people, 17 military personnel and five civilians were to be tried on charges related to the March 1995 coup attempt, while New African, West Africa and Africa Confidential reported that 23 accused were to be tried (ibid.; NA Sept. 1995, 18; WA 12-18 June 1995, 906; AC 7 July 1995, 8; ARB 24 July 1995, 11982).

Subsequent reports also vary as to the number of people tried before the secret military tribunal, for which there is no right of appeal. The BBC World Service reported that of 51 people charged, 40 were found guilty, while ARB reported that "some 40" suspects were tried (BBC World Service 14 July 1995; ARB 23 Aug. 1995, 11903). New African reported that in late July an additional 20 civilians and soldiers were tried before the tribunal, including the chairman of the pro-democracy National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, and four journalists (NA Sept. 1995, 18).

The actual sentences given the convicted persons was not immediately known, although several sources reported that 13 or 14 of those convicted had been sentenced to death, and some reports included former head of state General Obasanjo among those facing the death penalty (AFP 17 July 1996; Africa No. 1 26 July 1995; BBC World Service 14 July 1995; ARB 23 Aug. 1995, 11903; NA Sept. 1995, 18)

In October 1995 Nigerian television reported that 51 people were charged in connection with a February 1995 coup plot, and that 43 were found guilty by a military tribunal (NTA Television Network 1 Oct. 1995). The report includes the names of those convicted and a partial description of the actions of the principle actors (ibid.).

Several sources later reported that the Nigerian government had commuted all of the death sentences and reduced other sentences following an international plea for clemency (ibid. 10 Oct. 1995; ARB 23 Nov. 1995, 12012-13; WA 23-29 Oct. 1995, 1639-40).

Following the sentencing AFP reported that some military personnel convicted of plotting the coup claimed they had been framed (AFP 14 Oct. 1995) The BBC World Service also reported in October that General Obasanjo claimed he had been framed by another convicted coup plotter who had been tortured into fingering him (BBC World Service 28 Oct. 1995). In November the BBC World Service reported that the key witness against General Obasanjo had written him a note retracting the statements made against him at the secret trial (19 Nov. 1995).

Information on the families of those involved in the coup plot or trial could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

The attachments, which includes the articles cited above, provide additional information on the coup plot and trial.

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.

References

Africa Confidential (AC) [London]. 7 July 1995. Vol. 36, No. 14. "Nigeria: Widening the Net."

_____. 23 June 1995. Vol. 36, No. 13. "Nigeria: By Any Means Necessary."

_____. 28 April 1995. Vol. 36, No. 9. "Nigeria: Vicious Circle."

_____. 17 March 1995. Vol. 36, No. 6. "Nigeria: Coup Talk."

Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 26 July 1995. "Defense Council Reportedly Assigns Death Sentences." (FBIS-AFR-95-143 26 July 1995, pp. 13-14)

_____. 17 April 1995. "Diplomat Confirms Summary Executions." (FBIS-AFR-95-074 18 Apr. 1995, p. 14)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series (ARB) [Oxford]. 23 November 1995. Vol. 32, No. 10. "Nigeria: Sentences Commuted..."

_____. 23 August 1995. Vol. 32, No. 7. "Nigeria: Obasanjo Sentenced."

_____. 24 July 1995. Vol. 32, No. 6. "Nigeria: Untreasonable Confusion."

_____. 27 June 1995. Vol. 32, No. 5. "Nigeria: Obasanjo's Arrest."

_____. 25 May 1995. Vol. 32, No. 4. "Nigeria: Executions Report Denied."

_____. 26 April 1995. Vol. 32, No. 3. "Nigeria: 'Coup Plot' Arrests."

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 14 October 1995. "Obasanjo Accuses Government of 'Framing' Him." (FBIS-AFR-95-199 16 Oct. 1995, p. 28)

_____. 17 July 1995. "Press: Obasanjo Receives Life Sentence." (FBIS-AFR-95-136 17 July 1995, p. 27)

_____. 10 March 1995. "Government Orders Arrests for Coup Attempt: 29 Officers, Civilians Arrested." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, pp. 9-10)

_____. 9 March 1995. "House Arrest for Ex-Leader Babangida." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, p. 10)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 19 November 1995. "Key Witness Retracts Evidence in Coup Trial." (FBIS-AFR-95-223 20 Nov. 1995, pp. 28-29)

_____. 28 October 1995. "Newspaper Receives Letters From Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-95-210 31 Oct. 1995, pp. 27-28)

_____. 14 July 1995. "Tribunal Ends; 40 Convicted for Role in Coup Plot: Obasanjo, Yar'Adua Face Death Penalty." (FBIS-AFR-95-136 17 July 1995, p. 25)

_____. 17 April 1995. "Journalist Confirms Executions of Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-95-074 18 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 16 April 1995. "Military Denies '60 to 80' Soldiers Executed." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, pp. 12-13)

_____. 13 March 1995. "Further on Obasanjo's Arrest." (FBIS-AFR-95-049 14 Mar. 1995, pp. 28-29)

_____. 11 March 1995. "Magazine Editor Arrested." (FBIS-AFR-048 13 Mar. 1995, p. 28)

_____. 9 March 1995. "Gen. Yar'adua Said Arrested." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, pp. 10-11)

_____. 6 March 1995. "Defense Spokesman Plays Down Reports of Coup." (FBIS-AFR-95-044 7 Mar. 1995, p. 12)

NTA Television Network [Lagos, in English]. 10 October 1995. "Government Commutes Sentences of Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-95-196 11 Oct. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 1 October 1995. "Military Tribunal Convicts 43 Alleged Coupists."
(FBIS-AFR-95-191 3 Oct. 1995, pp. 25-27)

New African (NA) [London]. September 1995. Prince Ebow Godwin. "Escape from Nigeria."

_____. September 1995. "Nigeria's Secret Trials."

_____. May 1995. "The Coup That Never Was."

The Observer [London, in English]. 16 April 1995. Phillip Van Niekerk. "Nigerian Soldiers 'Massacred'." (NEXIS)

Radio Nigeria Network [Kaduna, in English]. 5 June 1995. "Coup Plotter Trial Begins; Suspects Listed." (FBIS-AFR-95-108 6 June 1995, p. 29)

_____. 17 April 1995. "Spokesman Says Executions 'Baseless'." (FBIS-AFR-95-074 18 Apr. 1995, p. 14)

_____. 10 March 1995. "Government Confirms Arrests of Military Officers." (FBIS-AFR-95-048 13 Mar. 1995, p. 28)

West Africa (WA) [London]. 23-29 October 1995. Bola Olowo. "Nigeria: Mercy for Coup Plotters."

_____. 12-18 June 1995. Bola Olowo. "Coup Suspects Arraigned."

_____. 24-30 April 1995. "Nigeria: Execution Reports Dismissed."

_____. 20-26 March 1995. "Nigeria: More Arrests."

_____. 13-19 March 1995. Lindsay Barrett. "Nigeria: Rumblings in the Army."

Attachments

Africa Confidential (AC) [London]. 7 July 1995. Vol. 36, No. 14. "Nigeria: Widening the Net," p. 8.

_____. 23 June 1995. Vol. 36, No. 13. "Nigeria: By Any Means Necessary," pp. 2-4.

_____. 28 April 1995. Vol. 36, No. 9. "Nigeria: Vicious Circle," p. 8.

_____. 17 March 1995. Vol. 36, No. 6. "Nigeria: Coup Talk," p. 8.

Africa No. 1 [Libreville, in French]. 26 July 1995. "Defense Council Reportedly Assigns Death Sentences." (FBIS-AFR-95-143 26 July 1995, pp. 13-14)

_____. 17 April 1995. "Diplomat Confirms Summary Executions." (FBIS-AFR-95-074 18 Apr. 1995, p. 14)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series (ARB) [Oxford]. 23 November 1995. Vol. 32, No. 10. "Nigeria: Sentences Commuted...," pp. 12012-13.

_____. 28 September 1995. Vol. 32, No. 8. "Nigeria: Purge Continues," p. 11955.

_____. 23 August 1995. Vol. 32, No. 7. "Nigeria: Obasanjo Sentenced," pp. 11903-04.

_____. 24 July 1995. Vol. 32, No. 6. "Nigeria: Untreasonable Confusion," pp. 11892-93.

_____. 27 June 1995. Vol. 32, No. 5. "Nigeria: Obasanjo's Arrest," pp. 11859-60.

_____. 25 May 1995. Vol. 32, No. 4. "Nigeria: Executions Report Denied," pp. 11831.

_____. 26 April 1996. Vol. 32, No. 3. "Nigeria: 'Coup Plot' Arrests," pp. 11794-95.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in French]. 16 October 1995. "Obasanjo Transferred to Maximum Security Prison." (FBIS-AFR-95-199 16 Oct. 1995, pp. 28-29)

_____. 15 October 1995. "No Special Treatment Given to VIP Prisoners." (FBIS-AFR-95-199 16 Oct. 1995, p. 27)

_____. 14 October 1995. "Obasanjo Accuses Government of 'Framing' Him." (FBIS-AFR-95-199 16 Oct. 1995, p. 28)

_____. 17 July 1995. "Press: Obasanjo Receives Life Sentence." (FBIS-AFR-95-136 17 July 1995, p. 27)

_____. 12 July 1995. "AFP Reports General Obasanjo Charged in Coup Plot." (FBIS-AFR-95-134 13 July 1995, p. 13)

_____. 14 April 1995. "Senior Officer Dismissed for Role in Coup Plot." (FBIS-AFR-95-073 17 Apr. 1995, p. 13)

_____. 13 March 1995. "Obasanjo Said Arrested for Political Reasons." (FBIS-AFR-95-049 14 Mar. 1995, pp. 27-28)

_____. 10 March 1995. "Government Orders Arrests for Coup Attempt: 29 Officers, Civilians Arrested." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, pp. 9-10)

_____. 9 March 1995. "House Arrest for Ex-Leader Babangida." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, p. 10)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 19 November 1995. "Key Witness Retracts Evidence in Coup Trial." (FBIS-AFR-95-223 20 Nov. 1995, pp. 28-29)

_____. 28 October 1995. "Newspaper Receives Letters from Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-95-210 31 Oct. 1995, pp. 27-28)