Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha GCFR ((ⓘ); (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian Army General and politician who ruled as the military head of state after seizing power in 1993 until his death in 1998. Abacha's seizure of power was the last successful coup d'état in Nigerian military history.
Sani Abacha | |
|---|---|
| 10th Head of State of Nigeria | |
| In office 17 November 1993 – 8 June 1998 | |
| Chief of General Staff | Oladipo Diya |
| Preceded by | Ernest Shonekan |
| Succeeded by | Abdulsalami Abubakar |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office August 1990 – 8 June 1998 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida Ernest Shonekan Himself |
| Preceded by | Domkat Bali |
| Succeeded by | Abdulsalami Abubakar |
| Chief of Defence Staff | |
| In office August 1990 – 17 November 1993 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida Ernest Shonekan |
| Preceded by | Domkat Bali |
| Succeeded by | Oladipo Diya |
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office August 1985 – August 1990 | |
| President | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Preceded by | Ibrahim Babangida |
| Succeeded by | Salihu Ibrahim |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 September 1943 Kano, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Kano, Kano, Nigeria) |
| Died | 8 June 1998 (aged 54) Aso Villa, Abuja, Nigeria |
| Cause of death | Unnatural Death (alleged) |
| Political party | none (military) |
| Spouse | Maryam Abacha |
| Children | See
|
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nigeria |
| Branch/service | Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 1963–1998 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Nigerian Civil War First Liberian Civil War |
Abacha served as Chief of Army Staff from 1985 to 1990, as Chief of Defence Staff from 1990 to 1993, and as Minister of Defence. Abacha is noted for having been the first Nigerian Army officer to attain the rank of a full military general without skipping a single rank.
His rule saw the achievement of several economic feats and also recorded human rights abuses and several political assassinations. He has been dubbed a kleptocrat and a dictator by several modern commentators. He was succeeded as Nigeria's head of state by General Abdulsalami Abubakar.