Prominent Nigerian activist Chief Jumoke Ogunkeyede has revealed how he publicly confronted former military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), over the alleged disappearance of $150 million during the final days of his regime and the controversial death of Chief MKO Abiola while in government detention.
Ogunkeyede made the revelation during an appearance on the State Affairs show hosted by Edmund Obilo, where he gave a detailed account of the encounter, which he said took place at an event in Chicago, United States.
According to Chief Ogunkeyede, he came face to face with General Abdulsalami at the Chicago event and seized the opportunity to demand answers on two major controversies that trailed the former military leader’s time in power. The first was the reported disappearance of $150 million in the final week of Abdulsalami’s military government in 1999, just before the handover to civilian rule. The second was the death of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, who died in detention on July 7, 1998, under Abdulsalami’s administration.
Ogunkeyede said he did not hold back in his questioning, even with Abdulsalami’s wife present at the event.
Recounting the encounter, Chief Ogunkeyede said, “I said, ‘Please wait sir, the last week of your being head of Nigeria’s military government, 150 million dollars was said to be missing. What happened to it? And your wife (the wife was there seated) did a number of havoc while you were both there.'”
Ogunkeyede also revealed that he directly accused General Abdulsalami of being the “architect of the downfall of MKO Abiola,” demanding an explanation for what happened to the detained pro-democracy icon while he was under the custody of the military government. According to Ogunkeyede, Abdulsalami responded by denying any involvement in Abiola’s death, stating that he “did not do anything to Abiola.”
General Abdulsalami Abubakar served as Nigeria’s Head of State from June 1998 to May 1999, following the sudden death of General Sani Abacha. His brief tenure was marked by the transition to civilian rule, which eventually saw Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerge as President in 1999. However, two major controversies have continued to shadow Abdulsalami’s legacy. The first is the death of MKO Abiola, who died on July 7, 1998, barely a month after Abdulsalami came to power, under circumstances that have remained disputed for over two decades. The second is the allegation that large sums of money went missing from government coffers during the final days of the military regime, just before the transition to democratic governance. Both issues have remained deeply sensitive in Nigerian political discourse, with activists and analysts repeatedly calling for accountability.
Ogunkeyede’s account has reignited public debate around the unresolved questions of Nigeria’s military era, particularly the circumstances surrounding MKO Abiola’s death and the management of public funds during the transition period. While some Nigerians have praised Ogunkeyede for his boldness in confronting a former Head of State, others have called for a more formal investigation into the allegations rather than relying on personal encounters.
The questions raised by Chief Ogunkeyede reflect a broader demand among Nigerians for accountability from former leaders, especially regarding the military era. As the nation continues to grapple with issues of governance and transparency, many believe that addressing unresolved controversies from the past remains essential to building public trust in leadership….See More
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