Kudirat Abiola

Kudirat Abiola
Born	Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi 1951 Nigeria
Died	June, 1996 Lagos
Cause of death	assassinated
Nationality	Nigeria
Spouse(s)	Moshood Abiola
Children	7

Alhaja Kudirat Abiola (née Adeyemi), popularly known as Kudirat Abiola (1951 – 9 June 1996) was assassinated whilst her husband, Moshood Abiola was being detained by the Nigerian Government. Her husband was the winning candidate in Nigerian elections and he was arrested shortly after the elections.

She was born in 1951 in Zaria in Nigeria. Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was the second and senior wife of her husband. Her children with her husband were Yusau Olalekan, Hafsat Olaronke, Abdul Muman, Hadi, Moriam and Khafila. Her husband had over several other children.

She was assassinated whilst her husband was being detained by the Nigerian Government. Her husband was suspected of being the winning candidate in Nigerian elections and he was arrested shortly after the elections. The killing was the subject of an investigation and trial many years later. According to accounts the murder was ordered and then carried out by six men. Abiola died in her car from machine gun fire. Her driver also died. Her personal assistant who was later accused of being involved with her assassins was in the car but was not hurt.

Her husband continued to be detained without charge after her death. He died in suspicious circumstances just before it was said he was to be released on 7 June 1998.

At the time of her death an anti-military rule "Radio Democracy" had just been created and it was based in Norway. It was backed by the American, British, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian governments to help end military dictatorship in Nigeria. The Radio station's name was changed to Radio Kudirat.

In October 1998 Major Hamza Al-Mustapha appeared in court with the previous President Abacha's son Mohammed, charged with the murder of Kudirat Abiola. At the trial the self-confessed killer, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila, said he was obeying orders from his superior, al-Mustapha.

On 30 June 2012 Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan were sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Al Mustapha had been a Presidential Chief security officer whilst Shofolahan had been his victim's personal assistant. The two were later released on appeal by a court in Lagos.

Abiola remains a symbol of Nigeria's struggle for democracy. Nineteen years after her death there were demonstrations at her graveside.

...
Wikipedia