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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former Chief of General Staff under the late Gen Sani Abacha, Lt. General Oladipo Diya, is dead.
It was gathered that the former military governor of Ogun State died in the early hours of Sunday after a protracted battle with an undisclosed ailment.He was said to have died in Lagos .
A statement purportedly signed his son, Barr Oyesinmilola Diya, confirmed the demise of Diya.
“On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; We announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband,Father, Grandfather,brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd), GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March, 2023.
Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course,” the statement read.
Diya was the second in command to the Military Head of State, Abacha, between November 1993 and December 1997. He was arrested by the Abacha and charged with treason in 1997.
Diya and the 11 others were accused of allegedly planning a coup to overthrow the government of Abacha in December 1997.
He was sentenced to death but the judgement was later commuted to 25 years in jail.
It was learnt that Diya, who later became a lawyer, had been sick for a while before he passed away on Sunday.