Buhari vs. Retired Colonel: A Story Of Military Tension And Threats In 1981

Buhari vs. Retired Colonel: A Story Of Military Tension And Threats In 1981

Retired Colonel Babatunde Bello-Fadile, Nigeria’s first military lawyer, has disclosed a dramatic encounter with former President Muhammadu Buhari, where he was threatened with expulsion from the military over a letter he wrote in 1981. The revelation was made in his memoir, Nine Lives:.…CONTINUE READING…

The Bello-Fadile Memoirs, where he recounted his time in the Nigerian Army.

At the time, Buhari was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Infantry Division in Ibadan, Oyo State. Bello-Fadile’s confrontation with Buhari arose after he wrote a letter expressing concerns about the proceedings of a general court-martial, where several officers had been found guilty of an offense. His letter, which included the controversial remark comparing the treatment of the officers to “Germany’s Gestapo custody,” angered Buhari.

The retired colonel shared in his memoir how he was summoned by Buhari, who reportedly threatened that it was either he (Bello-Fadile) would leave the army or Buhari would. The tension was defused after Bello-Fadile apologized and withdrew the letter, admitting to the inappropriate language used.

Years later, when Buhari became head of state, Bello-Fadile claims he avoided meeting him at Dodan Barracks, the seat of government at the time. Instead, he left Lagos for Kaduna, where he pursued a PhD in international law.

Bello-Fadile’s account sheds light on an intense moment between the two men, offering a glimpse into the early dynamics of Nigeria’s military leadership.