Veteran journalist and public affairs analyst, Richard Akinnola has offered a vivid recollection of the trial of officers involved in the 1990 coup led by Major Gideon Orkar, describing the unshaken demeanour of the accused despite their dire circumstances.
Speaking on SplashFM 105.5, Akinnola recalled witnessing several of the young military officers during the tribunal proceedings, including some who had sustained serious injuries during their arrest.
“I saw people, I mean young guys, Lieutenant Odey, Captain Emperrey, Lieutenant Akogo,” Akinnola said. “He was shot, maybe when he was arrested. He came on a wheelchair, he had POP on his leg. So I saw people who were just unfazed.”
The April 1990 coup, one of the boldest in Nigeria’s history, attempted to overthrow the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. The coup was quickly crushed and its masterminds, including Orkar and other officers were arrested and put on trial before a military tribunal.
Akinnola, who observed part of the trial, noted that the physical injuries and harsh conditions did little to shake the resolve of the young soldiers. Despite facing the possibility of death, he said many of them remained composed and unbroken.
The journalist’s testimony adds a human layer to the history of the failed coup, highlighting not only the political implications but also the personal sacrifices and steadfastness of those who participated. The story of officers like Lieutenant Akogo, wheeled into the courtroom with a bandaged leg, continues to resonate decades later.
