Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Nigeria purges senior officers

Frank Aigbogun
Friday 11 June 1999 00:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

NIGERIA'S NEW civilian president purged 29 senior officers from the military and seized hundreds of millions of dollars of stolen wealth from cronies of the late dictator General Sani Abacha, officials said yesterday.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose inauguration last month ended 15 years of military rule, forced each of the 29 officers ranging from brigadier- generals to majors into "compulsory retirement", the presidential spokesman Doyin Okupe told journalists.

Among those forced out is Mohammed Abdallah, the former military chief of staff under Abacha, whose strong-armed rule made Nigeria an international pariah and prevented democratic reforms until his death 12 months ago.

Political observers said those purged were mainly young, ambitious officers Mr Obasanjo views as potential threats to civilian rule.

The government also seized more than $420m (pounds 262m) in shares of Sierra Leone's state petroleum refinery as well as tens of millions of dollars in property, stocks and cash from Abacha's aides and family under a new law published in a special government gazette, state- controlled television reported.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in