On 31 December 1983, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari led a successful military coup and ousted the NPN government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Buhari emphasized the "immorality and impropriety" of the NPN regime, and banned all political parties. [ Africa South of the Sahara 1989, Eighteenth Edition, (London: Europa Publications Ltd., 1989), p.786.] Several prominent members of the NPN were arrested and bank accounts frozen. [ibid.] Although the coup overthrew the NPN government, several sources report that the Buhari regime is considered a derivative of the ousted NPN government. [ibid., "Nigeria: Deadly Serious", Africa Confidential, (London: Miramoor Publications Ltd., 14 March 1984), p.4.]

The Kaduna Mafia is made up of former Barewa College students, from well-to-do Hausa-Fulani families. [Pointers, "Nigeria: The Mafia's Hand", Africa Confidential, (London: Miramoor Publications Ltd., 6 July 1983).] The members of the Barewa Old Boys Association meet regularly to discuss politics, business and the future. [ibid.] A large number of northerners in top positions within the NPN and the armed forces are reportedly Barewa old boys. Although the president of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari was the nominal president of the Barewa Old Boys Association, the Kaduna Mafia had become disillusioned with the way he was handling the economy. [Colin Legum, ed., African Contemporary Record Annual Survey and Documents 1983-1984, (New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1984), p.B520.] It was for this reason that different sources stated that the Kaduna Mafia was reportedly looking to support the United Party of Nigeria (UPN), the main opposition party. The Mafia was concerned that power would leave northern hands in 1987. [ibid.]

After the military takeover in 1983, some NPN members were tried and sentenced by the Special Anti-Corruption Military Tribunals. Known as the Recovery of Public Property decree, they were established by the Supreme Military Council, headed by Buhari, in May 1984. [ Keesing's Record of World Events 1984, (London: Longman Group, 1984), p.33262.] Among those charged with corruption were NPN state governors. See the attached Keesing's report for 1984 for more specific information regarding the trials. On 9 October 1984, the SMC announced the reduction of prison sentences given to former state governors by the Anti-Corruption Tribunals. The mitigation reportedly benefited northerners and Kano's politicians. [Africa Confidential, 14 March 1984, p.4.]

For further information, please see the attached excerpts from the following documents:

Africa Confidential, 14 March 1984 and 31 October 1984.

African Contemporary Record Annual Survey and Documents 1984-1985, (New York: Africana Publishing Company, 1985), pp.B545-B549.

George Thomas Kurian, Encyclopedia of the Third World, Third Edition, vol.II., New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1987, p.1477-1478.