Who The Hell Are You That I Wanted To Kill... ? - Angry Obasanjo Screams As He Replies Gen. Bamaiyi Allegations

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo  has faulted the claim by a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, that he (Obasanjo) planned to kill the former army chief.

Wondering why he would want to kill Bamaiyi, Obasanjo stated that his government between 1999 and 2007 arrested the former COAS to clear his name for allegedly killing other people during the reign of military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha.

He said this on Sunday at his Presidential Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital while hosting members of the Ogun State Correspondents’ chapel.

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The former President argued that the former Chief of Army Staff was arrested by law enforcement agencies in the country for alleged criminal acts.

Bamaiyi, in his recent book, ‘Vindication of A General’, accused Obasanjo of plotting to kill him to scuttle any plan by the former army chief from toppling his administration.

In the book, Bamaiyi stated, “Upon handing over power to Gen. Obasanjo in May 1999, Gen. (Abdulsalami) Abubakar told the new civilian President that he must rein in General Bamaiyi, else, he would overthrow the new government and from that moment, General Aliyu Gusau, the then National Security Adviser, and President Obasanjo made it a duty to imprison me by all means.

“When Obasanjo took over, some Peoples Democratic Party big shots decided that based on the report, I had control of the Army and should be arrested. The government looked for avenues to arrest me.

“They started by checking Army accounts to see if I had stolen money.”

When reacting to Bamaiyi’s allegations, Obasanjo, who was visibly angry, denied any plot by his government to kill Bamaiyi, but admitted his regime arrested him to ensure that he answered for his misdeeds.

Obasanjo added, “That I wanted to kill him? What of the people he allegedly killed? My government did not plot to kill him. My government asked him to answer for those that were alleged to have been killed by him and that is legitimate.

“That is if there is an allegation that you have done something, that you have committed a crime, then you are arrested; you should answer. That’s all; pure and simple!

“Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him for what? To achieve what? No!  There were allegations, the police and the law enforcement agencies decided to look into the allegations.

“They invited him and they asked him to answer as a result of what was found, so they charged him to court. So, it’s now up to him, the investigators, as I said, the prosecutors and the judiciary. That’s all.”

Excerpted From Punch Newspaper

Bamaiyi Implicates VP Osinbajo In N10m Bribe Saga; Presidency Sparks, Replies Bamaiyi

The Presidency has denied the involvement of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo in a N10m bribe as claimed by former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi(rtd).

Bamaiyi, in his book, “The Vindication of A General” alleged that Osinbanjo was directed to convict him and others within six months during the time, he, Osinbajo was Lagos State Attorney- General.

The former Army claims that Osinbajo shielded the then trial judge, Justice Ade Alabi, whom he accused of demanding a N10 million bribe from him.

However, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, described Bamaiyi’s claims as blatant lies.

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In a statement, Akande said Osinbajo was never called to Abuja or given any form of instruction on how to resolve the case.

According to Akande, “ My attention has been drawn to claims made by General Bamaiyi in his book Vindication of a General, where he alleged that the then Attorney-General of Lagos State, Osinbajo, the trial judge, (in the criminal case of his “involvement” in the shooting of Alex Ibru) Justice Ade Alabi and the State Police Commissioner were called to Abuja and “directed to convict us at all costs within six months.”

“That Justice Ade Alabi asked for a N10m bribe through “one Mr. Martin” to facilitate his bail application in the case, and that the National Judicial Council panel composed to investigate the bribery allegation, protected the Judge.

“Specifically that Prof. Osinbajo “brought what he said was the panel report during one of the motions. Unfortunately, pages one through twenty-nine of the report were not produced.”While the Vice President, Osinbajo would take more comprehensive steps to address the evil insinuations made by the retired General, I have confirmed from him, i.e. Prof. Osinbajo, that he was never called to Abuja or at any time given any instructions on how to resolve the case. This blatant lie arose only from the fertile imagination of the author.

“Equally, the shifty recollections of the retired General about Prof. Osinbajo bringing a panel report with pages missing is as ludicrous as it is incongruous. For instance, is the author saying the then Lagos State Attorney-General was responsible for the NJC panel report? That would be incredible and clearly a mischievous proposition.”

Akande stated that Bamaiyi’s counsel, Mike Okoy, who argued the bail application for the former Army Chief had confessed in open court and in several newspaper public notices as ordered by Court that he lied against Justice Alabi.

“Okoye actually had to read his confession and apology in the open court in a case that involved such prominent lawyers like Chief F.R.A Williams, who in particular pressed that Okoye be held fully responsible for his wild accusations.

“It is incredible that after all of this, the author went on to mislead the public. What impudence!” the presidency stated,” Akande added.

Read Bamaiyi’s allegation below…

His words: “We were in prison until we were taken to court in Lagos on December 22, 1999 to face Justice Alabi, who was said to have been called to Abuja with the Attorney-General and Lagos State Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Osinbajo.

“They were said to have been directed to convict us at all costs within six months. Unknown to our persecutors, we had a lot of sympathy within the Presidency, the Police, and the DSS.

“As such, whatever instructions were passed to them got to us within a short while. I applied for bail even though I knew it would not be granted. After the argument by my counsel and the counter-argument by the state, led by the A-G, the case was adjourned without a date for ruling on my bail application.

“After some days, one Mr. Martins came to prison to visit Al Mustapha, who came and told me that he had been sent by Justice Ade Alabi to discuss my bail issue. He told me the judge was ready to grant me bail if I would give him N10 million.

“We discussed this with Al Mustapha and I expressed my fears regarding Mr. Martin’s message. We told Mr. Martins to prove that Justice Alabi had really sent him.

“He left, but after about two weeks, he came back and told us that when next we went to court, the trial judge would give us two months for the ruling on the bail application. This would be his proof that the judge had sent him.

“He said the judge was aware we were in prison and needed time to get money. At our next court appearance, the judge adjourned for two months. This proved to us that Mr. Martins was genuine.

“I informed my counsel, Mr. Mike Okoye, who argued the bail application. He said we should think about it and that he would try to find out the matter. We waited until I decided that I would give nobody any money.

“One day in court, Al Mustapha got fed up and challenged the judge. At the next court date, I asked the judge for permission to speak. He initially hesitated but changed his mind. I believe he thought I was going to apologize for Al Mustapha’s action during the previous hearing.

“I started by saying, ‘I have respect for the rule of law and the judiciary. I also have respect for this court.’ This made the judge relax. I quickly added, ‘But a situation where the judge sends people to collect money from accused persons is unacceptable. You know what I am talking about.’

“The judge ordered me to sit down. I did because I had said what I had wanted to say. Afterwards, we petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, against Justice Alabi. He wanted to continue with the case against the advice of lawyers and some judges. Eventually, he was forced to return the case file to the administrative judge.

“The NJC then decided to investigate our allegation. On March 25 to 27, at the Kirikiri Magistrate Court, the panel, headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, started hearing our petition. Unknown to us, the panel had decided to protect Justice Alabi who was working for the government.

“The panel was made up of Justice B.O. Babalakin (Chairman); Amb. M.L. Sambo (member) and T.J. Onomigbo Okpoko, SAN (member). “Justice Ade Alabi brought in Chief Afe Babalola, SAN as lead counsel and he came with Chief Ladi Williams, SAN, Prof. G.A Olawotin, SAN; Kola Awioderin, SAN, Ikenwa Okoli, Gboyega Oyewole, Adebayo Aderipekun. Justice Alabi was docked and examined by Chief Afe Babalola who led him in evidence. He was then cross-examined by Y.C. Maikyau, Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Jingi.

“They succeeded in stopping members of the press from covering theses proceedings. Later we got to know why the press was barred from the panel. The panel report was full of lies. The panel report stated that Justice Alabi was not docked and was not cross-examined by our counsel. I only hope Afe Babalola did not see that panel report. These are clear lies, as Justice Alabi was docked and cross-examined.

“Prof. Osinbajo brought what he said was the panel report during one of the motions. Unfortunately, pages one through 29 of the report were not produced. This was very clear because we, the petitioners, gave evidence and Justice Alabi was examined and cross-examined.

“I believe the missing pages contained our statements and the examination and cross-examination of Justice Alabi by our counsels. I believe these actions are understandable because Justice Ade Alabi was given an assignment to carry out injustice and he had to be protected by those who had given him the assignment.

“We were disappointed with the former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Babalakin, who disrespected himself and let down all justices of the Supreme Court. Even in retirement, they should be honourable.

“I am looking forward to the day we see the complete report of the panel and the statements made by those who gave evidence. We also hope the investigation of the death of Mr. Martins under suspicious circumstances will be made available one day.”

Gen. Bamaiyi Opened Can-Of-Worms: Abdulsalami, IBB, Olanrewaju Open Up

Daily Sun - Barely 48 hours after former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, released a book in which he revealed what could pass for the secrets of the 1999 presidential election, those he said played big roles in the emergence of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, have opened up.

Reacting to the content of the book, former Head of State, General Abdulsalamni Abubakar; former military President, Ibrahim Babangida and ex-Minister of Communication, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, have commented.

Bamaiyi had, in his book entitled: Vindication of a General, whose public presentation held in Abuja at the weekend, alleged that former military Generals, including Abdulsalami, who was Head of State at the time; former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; ex-National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, and former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma, plotted the emergence of Obasanjo, who was released from prison then, as president.

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He said owing to his opposition of the General’s plan to make Obasanjo president and his preference for Chief Olu Falae, who was a joint presidential candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and the All Peoples Party (APP) in the 1999 election, he fell into trouble.

Bamaiyi told a story of how Abdulsalami allegedly held meetings with Babangida and Gusau, wherein they agreed on Obasanjo’s return to power.

He stated, “Unknown to me, Gen. (Abdulsalami) Abubakar had already committed himself to Generals Babangida, T. Y. Danjuma and Aliyu Gusau on General Obasanjo’s coming in to take over from him (Abdulsalami). A proposal I totally objected to, which I told Generals Abubakar, TY Danjuma and Aliyu Gusau in very clear terms. My stand did not go well with the generals and General Abubakar started feeling unsafe.”

Speaking with Daily Sun last night, Abdulsalami said he had been inundated with telephone calls from people who had read Bamaiyi’s account.

The former head of state said he had not seen or read the book, as he was abroad, but said when he returned in two weeks, he would  tell his own side of the story, if there is need for it.

General Abdulsalami said although it was against the military tradition for senior officers to comment on what their juniors have said, he could speak in details if situation demanded such, after he would have studied the book.

Said he: “I am currently out of the country. Since today (yesterday) I have been receiving calls from Nigeria and across the world, from people who read the news item on the book. I have not seen the book or read it. I hope to return in about two weeks.

“I must say, in any case, that it is against military tradition for senior officers to join issues with their juniors, but if it becomes imperative that I should make full comments on the content of the book, I will do so.” Also reacting to the allegation, former Edo State Commissioner for Information and General Babangida’s spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said Bamaiyi had not said anything new. He confirmed that Babangida was part of those who helped Obasanjo emerge as president.

Said Afegbua; “That’s not a new song. It is true that IBB was part of those who helped former President Obasanjo to stage a come back. That is no news at all. We had said it before; it is nothing new. But they did not impose him. They ensured that he scaled through the primaries of the PDP in Jos and was made to face Nigerian electorate at the election.

“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is aware of this. What is General Bamaiyi trying to achieve? We have repeatedly said this. A lot of Nigerians are also aware. The reason for the support was altruistic because they felt Chief Obasanjo was in a better position to heal the wounds in the land at that time.”

Also speaking on Bamaiyi’s book, General Olanrewaju said the former Chief of Army Staff’s position was misplaced facts about what transpired in the 1995 and 1997 attempted coups.

General Olanrewaju, who was also a former General Officer Commanding (GOC) Third Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Jos, said, in a release he personally signed yesterday: “The point to note is that student of history must know what transpired in the 1995 and 1997 coup saga for posterity sake as against the misplacement of facts contained in the excerpts reported from the Bamaiyi’s new book.

 “Ironically, the new book can open the eyes of all Nigerians to see the footprint of an ambitious soldier that Bamaiyi epitomises, as detailed in every account of power play, which appears unfavourable to him, but favourable to both General Abdulsalaam Abubakar as Abacha’s successor and General Olusegun Obasanjo as 1999 civilian president. He lost out in the power play.

 “There are two main issues I want to correct, the first of which was the arrest of Gwadabe. In his book Bamaiyi stated that General Olanrewaju briefed the meeting called by the then Chief of Army Staff General Alwali Kazir (retd), which was factually incorrect.  What is correct is that the only person who briefed the meeting was the DMI (Directorate of Military Intelligence), General Sarki Mukthar, whose duty it was to brief the meeting about security situation in the country. “Following this, I was instructed by the meeting to facilitate the arrest of Gwadabe, whose brigade in Yola was under my command, while other commanders were similarly instructed to effect the arrests of others under their own commands. The instruction to arrest Colonel Bello Fadile was also given in the meeting.

“Fortunately, General Kazir and General Mukthar are alive today to testify to the truth of this matter.”

Olanrewaju said the second issue to be cleared is on the 1997 Diya’s coup, where Bamaiyi said “other meetings took place at a guest house with Gen. Diya, Gen. Olanrewaju, CO 7 Gds Bn, Gen. Diya’s security officer, Major Fadipe and me. Of course, General Abacha was always briefed after the meetings.”

On this, Olanrewaju said he was not in the said meeting. According to him, “the said CO 7 Gds Bn and Major Fadipe, if called upon, will testify to the truth. I met Ishaya on two occasions; he met me in my house and I met him in his house, both times in Abuja.

“For avoidance of doubt and for students of history, the first time I heard about the Diya’s coup was when Bamaiyi told me and Aziza confirmed it.”

Bamaiyi had also claimed that members of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) merely paid lip service to the late Chief Moshood Abiola’s travails in the hands of the General Sani Abacha regime. Bamaiyi also accused NADECO of misleading Abiola into rejecting a conditional release granted him by Abacha: “If they were sincere and actually supported him, they would have accompanied him to where he declared himself President.”

 “It is also obvious that Abiola was abandoned after his death, which some people suspected that it had the support of some NADECO members. After Abiola’s death, one would have expected some reactions, at least, from Lagos, but there was no reaction anywhere.” Bamaiyi noted that following the failure of NADECO members to strongly make a case for the release of Abiola, he, former president of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Pascal Bafyau, and Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) had to meet and resolved to take up the initiative of working for the release of the politician.

 “There are some Nigerians who made efforts to get Abiola released. After Abiola’s arrest, the late General Ibrahim Gumel – then the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), the late Mr. Pascal Bafyau, then the President of NLC and I met at Headquarters, Lagos Garrison Command on Kofo Abayomi Street. We discussed the implications of Abiola’s arrest.”