Nigeria’s democracy came under severe test in April 2004 when security agencies uncovered a plot to overthrow then-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, just five years after the country returned to civilian rule.
Naijaonpoint learnt that nearly 30 mid-ranking military officers were implicated in the plan.
At the time, presidential spokesperson, Remi Oyo, confirmed that “serious breaches of security” had been detected, prompting a thorough investigation which led to several arrests.
“Let me say that President Olusegun Obasanjo trusts the security agencies and officials of government. He believes in the Nigerian people. He knows that the Nigerian people believe in democracy and will continue to work for and with democracy. What the intelligence community is doing is not anything extraordinary; it’s all in its job,” Oyo said in a statement.
By October 2004, the government publicly admitted the coup attempt after four military officers and one civilian were charged with treason for allegedly plotting to assassinate Obasanjo by shooting down his helicopter with a missile.
Those arraigned were Hamza Al-Mustapha, a major and former head of security to late dictator Sani Abacha; Lt. Col. Mohammed Umar Adeka; Navy Commander Yakubu Kudambo; Lt. Tijani Abdallah; and civilian, Onwuchekwa Okorie.
According to the charge sheet, Al-Mustapha provided funds through Okorie to Abdallah between November 2002 and March 2004 “for the purpose of purchasing a Stinger surface-to-air missile to be used in shooting down the President’s helicopter with the President on board.”
Abdallah reportedly made several trips to Togo and Côte d’Ivoire in attempts to acquire the US-made shoulder-fired missile.
Kudambo, on his part, was accused of preparing a draft coup speech announcing a new regime to replace Obasanjo’s elected government.
Al-Mustapha, Adeka, and Okorie pleaded not guilty in court, while Kudambo and Abdallah were charged in absentia.
Recall that the Federal Government, last month cancelled Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day parade scheduled for October 1. Reports claimed the decision was linked to another alleged coup attempt.
But the Defence Headquarters dismissed the speculation, stressing that the cancellation had “no connection whatsoever” with rumours of a coup and was purely administrative.
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