Former Chief Of Staff Oladipupo Diya Is Dead

The former Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to General Sani Abacha, Lieutenant General Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya is dead.

His death was made public by a family member, Barrister Oyesinmilola Diya on Sunday.

According to Oyesinmilola Diya, General Diya, who was a former Military Governor of Ogun State died in the early hours of Sunday, March 26, 2023.

Born on April 3, 1944, Diya was the military governor of Ogun State after the Muhammadu Buhari-Babatunde Idiagbon regime.

Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

While serving in the military, Diya studied Law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to Bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to General Sani Abacha.

He was arrested by the Abacha regime in December, 1997 for allegedly mastermimding and planning a coup d'etat.

He was thereafter condemned to death by firing squad by a military tribunal.

Condemned to die with him were Major - Generals Abdulkarim Adisa and Tajudeen Olanrewaju on April 28, 1998.

He was however pardoned alongside the other other alleged coup plotters by the administration of Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1999.

General Diya was also at the Oputa Panel.