Veteran journalist and lawyer Richard Akinnola has faulted claims by former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) that Chief MKO Abiola died of natural causes while in detention, citing testimony from the Oputa Panel.
In a Facebook post titled _“MY RESPONSE TO GENERAL ABDULSALAMI ABUBAKAR, A FORMER HEAD OF STATE,” Akinnola disagreed with Abubakar’s account in his recently launched autobiography. He referenced suspicions around tea served to Abiola by U.S. visitors on July 7, 1998, and questioned why Abiola was not released with former President Olusegun Obasanjo on June 15, 1998, only to die three weeks later.
Abubakar had told The SUN Newspaper that Abiola was served tea by State House security staff, not by the international visitors. Akinnola countered with evidence from the Oputa Panel, quoting the Chief Security Officer to Abubakar, Major S. Aliyu, who testified that Susan Rice of the U.S. delegation served Abiola the tea from a flask. He added that Major Aliyu said under cross-examination he was “not sure if the tea… was tasted before it was served.”
Akinnola also cited ASP Theodore Zadok, Abiola’s chief minder, who testified that it was standard practice for him to taste all food and drink given to Abiola. Zadok told the panel he was called away by Major Aliyu to open the Chief of General Staff’s office shortly before Abiola was served, raising questions about why he was moved during a high-profile visit.
“Is it ever done anywhere that international visitors would serve tea to your detainee?” Akinnola asked. He concluded that Abubakar’s claim was “at variance with the evidence of ASP Theodore Zadok… and Major S. Aliyu.”
Akinnola, who said he took Abubakar to court twice during his military rule, also rejected the former leader’s statement that late General Sani Abacha “did not steal, but only saved Nigeria’s money abroad in his name.”
The Oputa Panel was set up in 1999 to investigate human rights violations between 1966 and 1999, including the circumstances surrounding Abiola’s death in detention on July 7, 1998.