According to a June 1996 African Research Bulletin report, on 4 June 1996, Mrs. Kudirat Abiola was shot in the head, by gunmen while driving near her home (12309). A group calling itself the "Committee for the Release of Moshood Abiola" reportedly claimed responsibility, stating that it killed Mrs. Abiola because "her campaign to free Moshood Abiola was driven by a consuming ambition for political limelight at the expense of her husband" (ibid.). Mrs. Abiola's aide, Femi Adesina, and a dozen members of the Abiola family, including his brother Mubashiru and Moshood's son, Kola, aged 33, were reportedly detained in connection with the incident (ibid.).

A 10-16 June 1996 West Africa report states that Mrs. Abiola's car was "trailed from home, in mainland Lagos, by a Peugeot saloon which overtook it [Mrs. Abiola's car] as it tried to join the expressway to Lagos Island ... the Peugeot then sprayed the Mercedes with bullets" (890).

According to a 23 June 1996 report in the same magazine, Kudirat Abiola's home was located in "Abiola's sprawling estate in the Ikeja area of Lagos" (942). This source states that seven shots were fired at Mrs. Abiola's car, one of which hit her in the head. Information on the number of the gunmen and the colour of their car is not given (ibid., 943). Mrs. Abiola's driver was also injured and died later, but her personal aide, Dr. Femi Adesina, who was in the car at the time of the shooting, reportedly escaped unhurt (ibid.). The police reportedly detained him but later "clarified that he is not a suspect" (ibid.). This source also states that "the police invited for questioning, its officers at the checkpoint near the spot where Mrs. Abiola was shot" (ibid.). A 29 July-4 August 1996 West Africa article states that charges of conspiracy in the murder "were ready to be brought against people believed to be NADECO chieftains" (1171.).

A doctoral student specializing in Nigerian politics at the University of London's Institute of Commonwealth Studies, stated that the investigations is still continuing (27 Feb. 1996). Information on whether the police are seeking any named individuals could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB. For additional information on the death of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola, please consult the attached documents.

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.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. June 1994. Vol. 33, No. 6., "Nigeria: Abiola's Wife Murdered."

Doctoral student specializing in Nigerian politcs, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, London. 27 February 1996. Telephone interview.

West Africa [London]. 29 July-4 August 1996. "A Police Spokesman."

_____. 23 June 1996. "Crime: The Murder of Kudirat."

_____. 10-16 June 1996. "Nigeria: Kudirat Abiola Shot Dead."

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [London]. June 1994.Vol. 33, No. 6, "Nigeria: Abiola's Wife Murdered," pp. 12309-310.

West Africa [London]. 29 July-4 August 1996. "A Police Spokesman," p. 1171.

_____. 23 June 1996. "Crime: The Murder of Kudirat," pp. 942-943.

_____. 10-16 June 1996. "Nigeria: Kudirat Abiola Shot Dead," p. 890.