Vol 39 No 7 | NIGERIA From the shadows 3rd April 1998 Universally known as 'MD', former spymaster and police chief Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu (66) has emerged as the most credible challenger to General Sani Abacha's as yet unannoun...
Vol 39 No 7 | NIGERIA Not Alaafin matter 3rd April 1998 The detention at London's Gatwick airport on 24 March of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and his family after it was claimed that drugs valued at £1.5 million (US$2.5...
Vol 39 No 2 | NIGERIA Plots, lies and videotapes 23rd January 1998 Amid general discontent and military nervousness, the Abacha regime's latest claim of a coup plot is unlikely to be its last General Sani Abacha is pulling out all the stops to gain maximum political advantage from the latest alleged coup plot. Videotaped scenes from interrogations of the accused, includ...
Vol 39 No 1 | NIGERIA Rotters or plotters? 9th January 1998 On the face it, the 21 December allegation that the Deputy Head of State, Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya, Major General Tunji Olanrewaju, Maj. Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa and eight othe...
Vol 38 No 25 | NIGERIA After Yar'Adua 19th December 1997 The death of a detained politician has focused attention on northern discontents Whatever caused the death of gaoled Northern military politician Shehu Musa Yar'Adua'on 9 December, it has sent a powerful message that Northerners can expect no special favours fr...
Vol 38 No 24 | NIGERIA Rebranding Abacha 5th December 1997 The personality cult around General Sani Abacha is growing rapidly, ahead of his expected candidacy in next August's presidential elections. A new biography entitled – Sani A...
Vol 38 No 22 | NIGERIA The General's transition 7th November 1997 As Sani Abacha makes his political plans there is growing disquiet in the military No one who has visited the Presidential complex at Aso Rock in recent weeks doubts that General Sani Abacha, encouraged by his wife Maryam and his 'kitchen cabinet', intends to sta...
Vol 38 No 21 | NIGERIAOIL AND GAS Clearing out 24th October 1997 Uncertainties about General Abacha's health have prompted a rush for oil profits Nobody knows whether General Sani Abacha will take off his uniform and try to win an election as his own civilian successor in August 1998. Moreover, he may be suffering (depending...
Vol 38 No 19 | NIGERIA Oil glistens 26th September 1997 General Sani Abacha's regime may be a pariah for Western and Commonwealth governments but it's determined to win friends in his own region. Not content with being Chairman of the E...