General Oladipo Diya, whose residence is at 31, Adekule Fajuyi Way, Ikeja, Lagos (Post Express 9 Mar. 1999; ibid. 20 Sept. 1998) is from Yoruba majority tribe in the West of Nigeria (AAP Newsfeed 29 Apr. 1998; Post Express 2 Jan. 1998). Furthermore, the December 1997 alleged coup plot is qualified as "Yoruba coup" or "Oladipo Diya coup" (ibid. 20 Oct. 1998).

In recent Guardian article, the former Chief of General Staff Oladipo Diya denied "any move" to join politics (Guardian 14 Aug. 1999). "I am not thinking of politics for now" added the former Chief of General Staff (ibid.). Indeed, he disclosed his plans for the future in the following terms:

You know I have a law firm. I also have a loan from NERFUND (National Economic Recovery Fund) which I am utilising to build a plastic making company and vegetable oil plants. So these three are occupying my time now (Guardian 14 August 1999).

In a 30 June 1999 Guardian article, Tunji Abayomi, a member of the recently constituted human rights panel stated that "all victims of the phantom coup plot, including President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Chief General Staff, Lt. General. Oladipo Diya, are free to protest their conviction." Oladipo Diya himself declared that "he is ready to submit himself to probe of the régime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha in which he served" (Guardian 14 Aug. 1999).

Information on whether General Oladipo Diya is a member of or affiliated to the Oodua People Congress (OPC) could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

AAP Newsfeed. 29 April 1998. Dulue Mbachu. "AFR: Mercy Pleas Expected After Nigerian Death Sentences." (NEXIS)

The Guardian [Lagos]. 14 August 1999. "Diya Plans To Go Into Plastic Moulding." Http://www.nigerianews.net/cgi-local/getNews Article.cgi?id=3493 . [Accessed 24 Aug. 1999].

_____. 30 June 1999. "Obasanjo, Diya May Approach Rights Panel, Says Abayomi." Http://www.nigerianews.net/cgi-local/getNews Article.cgi?id=2415 . [Accessed 24 Aug. 1999].

Post Express [Lagos]. 9 March 1999. "Diya Journey Home." Http://www.postexpresswired.com/po...900c08525672e004e8da0?OpenDocument . [Accessed 24 Aug. 1999].

_____. 20 October 1998. Chikwe-Onuoha Nnaemeka. "The Southern Leader's Fiction." Http://www.postexpresswired.com/po...46b3f85566a300144c?33?OpenDocument . [Accessed 24 Aug. 1999].

_____. 20 September 1998. "FG Relaxes Security at Diya's House." Http://www.postexpresswired.com/po...59cfa8525668500061c35?OpenDocument [Accessed 24 Aug. 1999].

Africa Confidential [London]. 1998-July 1999.

Africa Research Bulletin [London]. 1998.

L'Autre Afrique [Paris]. June 1998- August 1999.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. 1998- August 1999.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. 1998 to present.

NewAfrican [London]. 1998-1999.

Resource Centre country file. Nigeria. 1998 to present.

West Africa [London]. 1998 to present.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, World News Connection (WNC), Internet searches, including, regional and national media Web sites.