Information on the court proceedings and trial of Sergeant Stephen Iyeke; 2) Information on when the arrests of the 42 people who were executed in connection with the attempted coup d'état took place, and the length of time the executed spent in detention [NGA11423]

1) Sergeant Stephen Iyeke's name appears on the list of those executed in connection with the abortive coup d'état on 22 April 1990. Information relating specifically to the court proceedings and the trial of Sergeant Stephen Iyeke is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa. However, according to Agence France Presse (20 July 1990), the trail of individuals alleged to have participated in the coup attempt started on 21 May "with the appearance before a special military tribunal of 10 soldiers." The trial was reportedly conducted in camera and "roads leading to the court venue...were completely cordoned off" (Ibid.). According to the Lagos Domestic Service (27 July 1990), the proceedings "took days of very extensive deliberations" (Ibid.).

2) Information on the exact date the 42 were arrested and on the length of time they were arrested is currently unavailable to the IRBDC in Ottawa. For additional information on the attempted coup d'état, please refer to the attached documents.

References

AFP [Paris, in English]. 20 July 1990. "Secret Trial of Coup Participants Said Over." (FBIS-AFR-90-141 23 July 1990,p. 27)

Lagos Domestic Service [Lagos]. 27 July 1990. "Report on Execution of 42 Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-90-146 30 July 1990, p. 41)

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Series. [London]. 1-31 August 1990. Vol. 27, No. 8. "Nigeria: Plotters Killed," Col. A&B.

Agence France Presse [Paris, in English]. 20 July 1990. "Secret Trial of Coup Participants Said Over." (FBIS-AFR-90-141 23 July 1990,p. 27)

. "43 Participants Sentenced to Death." (FBIS-AFR-90-141 23 July 1990, p. 28)

Lagos Domestic Service [Lagos]. 27 July 1990. "Report on Execution of 42 Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-90-146 30 July 1990, p. 41)