Photographs or detailed personal information on Chief Great
Ogboru could not be found among the sources currently available
to the IRBDC.
In addition to the information already available to the
find attached a few documents which contain information on
Ogboru's role in the April 1990 coup attempt.
One of the attached documents describes Chief Great Ogboru
as a 32 year-old (in May 1990) "fishing magnate from Bendel"
(West Africa 7-13 may 1990, 756). Another attachment

describes Great Ogboru as "a high-profile young multi-

millionaire" who was a secondary school classmate of at least two
alleged coup-plotters (Africa Confidential 18 May 1990, 3).
One source names a brother of his, Turner Ogboru, as a person
convicted in the aftermath of the coup attempt (Le Devoir 21
July 1990).
Various sources state that one of the goals of the attempt
was the elimination of a hegemony by a northern Muslim elite from
five northern states, mostly members of the Hausa and Fulani
ethnic groups (Ibid; Liberation 25 April 1990; other
attachments). One of the main figures of the coup attempt, Major
Gideon Orka, is reported as belonging to the Tiv ethnic group
(Ibid.). However, no ethnic relationship between Ogboru and
Orka could be found among the available sources. A source
acquainted with Nigerian affairs stated that the name Ogboru
could be Yoruba, although no conclusive answer on the ethnic
affiliation can be made from the surname (Lawyers Committee 12
Aug. 1990).
Regarding the fate of Chief Great Ogboru, the last reference
found among the sources currently available indicates that he
escaped to Europe when the coup attempt failed (West Africa
6-12 August 1990, 2245).
Bibliography
West Africa [Nigeria]. 6-12 August 1990. "Forty-two
Executed."
. 7-13 May 1990. "Business as Usual?"
Liberation. 25 April 1990. "Querelle d'ethnies sur Fond de
Putsch Avorté."
Le Devoir. 21 July 1990. "43 Militaires Condamnés à Mort à la
Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, New York. 12 August 1991.
Telephone Interview with Representative.
Africa Confidential [London]. 18 May 1990. "More Questions
Than Answers?"
Attachments
West Africa [Nigeria]. 6-12 August 1990. "Forty-two
Executed."
. 7-13 May 1990. "Business as Usual?"
Liberation. 25 April 1990. "Querelle d'ethnies sur Fond de
Putsch Avorté."
Africa Confidential [London]. 18 May 1990. "More Questions
Than Answers?"
. 13 July 1990. "No Longer at Ease?"
Amnesty International. (AI Index: AFR 44/04/91). "Nigeria: A
Summary of Human Rights Concerns in 1990."
Le Devoir. 21 July 1990. "43 Militaires Condamnés à Mort à la
Suite du Putsch au Nigeria."