On the exact date of early 1995 coup attempt, the attached article from the 9-15 October 1995 issue of West Africa and the attached 3 October 1995 article from the Federal Braodcast Information Service (FBIS) report on a Nigerian television broadcast during which an unindentified announcer stated that the coup plot was uncovered in February 1995 (1157; 25). On the involvment of General Yar'Adua in the alleged coup plot, the announcer stated that General Yar'Adua and Lt.-Colonel Sambo Dasuki "discussed the Federal Military Government under the leadership of General Sani Abacha and concluded that steps must be taken to remove the government" (ibid.). The attached August 1995 Africa News article states that the trial was held behind closed doors. For information on General Yar'Adua, his fate and the fate of others involved in the alleged coup plot, as well as the names of all those arrested or sought in relation to the alledged coup plot and on the round-ups related to the alledged coup plot, please consult the attached articles.

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.

Attachments

Africa Confidential [London]. 17 March 1995. Vol. 36, No. 6. "Nigeria: Coup Talk," p. 8.

Africa News [London]. August 1995. "Skeptics Doubt Nigerian Junta's Commitment to Civilian Rule." (NEXIS)

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. 26 April 1995. Vol. 32, No. 3. "Nigeria: 'Coup Plot' Arrests," pp. 11794-95.

Agence France Presse (AFP) [Paris, in English]. 10 March 1995. "Government Orders Arrests for Coup Attempt: 29 Officers, civilians Arrested" (FBIS-AFR-95-047 10 Mar. 1995, pp. 9-10)

BBC World Service [London, in English]. 9 March 1995. "General Yar'adua Said Arrested." (FBIS-AFR-95-047 9 Mar. 1995, pp. 10-11)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 11 October 1995. BC Cycle. "Former Nigerian President, Other Coup Plotters to Serve Jail Terms." (NEXIS)

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). 1 October 1995. "Military Tribunal Convicts 43 Alleged Coupists." (FBIS-AFR-95-191 3 Oct. 1995, p. 25-27)

NTA Television Network [Lagos, in English]. 22 September 1995. "Government Continues Search for Coup Plotters." (FBIS-AFR-95-185 25 Sept. 1995, p. 27)

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

Reuters. 11 October 1995. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Cutting Jail Terms Brings Little Joy to Nigerian Opposition." (NEXIS)

_____. 30 September 1995. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Nigerian Crisis Focuses on Five Tough Men." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 June 1995. BC Cycle. Tunde Obadina. "Retired Nigerian Generals Seek Obasango's Freedom." (NEXIS)

_____. 13 March 1995. BC Cycle. James Jukwey. "Former Nigerian Leader Obasanjo Arrested." (NEXIS)

West Africa [London]. 23-29 October 1995. Bola Olowo. "Mercy for Coup Plotters,"pp. 1639-40."

_____. 9-15 October 1995. "'The 1995 Coup Plot'," p. 1557.

_____. 13-19 March 1995. Lindsay Barrett. "Rumblings in the Army," pp. 377-78.

The Xinhua News Agency. 19 April 1995. "Nigerian Government Defends Detention of Retired General." (NEXIS)