LAGOS — 1996 · Murder
The Assassination of Kudirat Abiola
Kudirat Abiola was the wife of Moshood Abiola, winner of Nigeria's 1993 presidential election, who was jailed after the military annulled the vote. Campaigning for his release and for democracy, she was shot dead in her car in Lagos on 4 June 1996; her driver was also killed. After military rule ended, Sani Abacha's former chief security officer and an aide were tried and in 2012 sentenced to death. In July 2013, however, the Lagos Court of Appeal acquitted both for insufficient evidence. In January 2026 the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal seeking to reopen the case.
- Date
- 1996
- Place
- Lagos State, Nigeria, Lagos, NG
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Unsolved
- Coordinates
- 6.5500, 3.3600 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 4 June 1996Kudirat Abiola was shot dead in her car in Lagos.
- 1998Abacha-era security officials were charged.
- 2012Two defendants were sentenced to death at first instance.
- 12 July 2013The Court of Appeal acquitted both.
- January 2026The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal to reopen the case.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Kudirat Abiola en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Vanguard — Kudirat Abiola's murder: Appeal Court frees Mustapha, Shofolahan vanguardngr.com ↗
- Channels TV — Supreme Court dismisses trial of Al-Mustapha channelstv.com ↗
- Wikipedia
- Vanguard
- Channels Television
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.