Abdulkareem Adisa was born on 22 August 1948 in Ilorin, a city that is now part of Kwara State. His early education began at a Qur’anic school in Ilorin from 1951 to 1953. He later attended Catholic Primary School at Ibuso Gboro in Ibadan between 1953 and 1958. In 1962 he was admitted into the Nigerian Military School in Zaria where he completed his training in 1965. Two years later he entered the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna as an officer cadet and graduated in 1970.
Civil War Experience and Captivity
At the height of the Nigerian Civil War Adisa was captured by Biafran forces in August 1967 while serving as a young officer. He remained a prisoner of war until January 1970 when the conflict ended. This period marked a defining phase in his early military life and shaped the resilience that later characterised his public career.
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Rise Through the Ranks and Governance of Oyo State
Adisa rose through the Nigerian Army to the rank of Major General. His appointment as Military Governor of Oyo State in August 1990 placed him in a position of executive leadership at a critical time in the state’s development. He served until January 1992. One of the well documented projects during his tenure was the commissioning of the Statue of the Unknown Soldier in Ibadan, created as a memorial to honour Nigerian soldiers who lost their lives in service to the nation.
Ministerial Role Under the Abacha Administration
During the administration of General Sani Abacha, Adisa served as Minister of Works and Housing. His stewardship in the ministry included contributions to the ongoing national housing policy and involvement in modernising surveying education at the Federal School of Surveying. The transition from analogue to digital practice within the school’s training framework became part of the era’s broader institutional reforms. Although housing remained a challenging national issue, his role within the ministry formed a significant part of his service record.
The 1997 Arrest and Coup Tribunal
In December 1997 the Nigerian government announced the arrest of several high ranking officers and civilians accused of plotting to overthrow General Sani Abacha. Among those detained were Oladipo Diya, Tajudeen Olanrewaju, and Abdulkareem Adisa. A Special Military Tribunal led by Major General Victor Malu presided over the case. The tribunal delivered its judgment on 28 April 1998, sentencing Adisa and others to death. The proceedings became the focus of national and international attention due to their closed nature and the surrounding political tension of the period.
Commutation, Release, and National Pardon
The executions were never carried out. The political landscape shifted dramatically following the sudden death of General Sani Abacha on 8 June 1998. His successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, introduced a series of transitional measures that included commuting the sentences of the convicted officers. On 4 March 1999 Adisa and others regained their freedom. In 2013 the National Council of State under President Goodluck Jonathan granted a formal state pardon to several individuals linked to the 1997 case, restoring their civil and military rights and closing a significant chapter in Nigeria’s military era.
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Final Years and Enduring Legacy
Abdulkareem Adisa died on 25 February 2005. His life represents the shifting nature of military authority, political power, and national memory. From military leadership to legal ordeal, release, and eventual pardon, his journey reflects the complexities of Nigeria’s political history and the human stories woven into its most turbulent years.
Author’s Note
This story of Abdulkareem Adisa serves as a reminder of how swiftly power can rise, fall, and be reconsidered with the passage of time. His experiences, from leadership to imprisonment and eventual pardon, reveal the fragile balance between duty and authority in a nation shaped by political uncertainty. Readers are invited to reflect on how personal fate and national change often intersect, leaving behind lessons on resilience, legacy, and the shifting tides of history.
References
The Washington Post
allAfrica
Amnesty International
Vanguard Newspaper
Ejaife Commentary
Daily Trust
