Kunle Ajibade (born 28 May 1958) is a Nigerian journalist, editor and author. In 1995, along with General

Olusegun Obasanjo Chief Olusegun Matthew Okikiola Ogunboye Aremu Obasanjo, , ( ; yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ ; born 5 March 1937) is a Nigerian political and military leader who served as Nigeria's head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its pres ...

, and three other journalists, was jailed for life on charges of treason. In 1998/1999, he was a Feuchtwanger fellow at the Villa Aurora in Los Angeles.

Education and early career

Ajibade holds a Bachelor's in English Studies and a Masters in Literature-In-English from the

Obafemi Awolowo University Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...

. He has worked as Senior Correspondent at The African Concord, Assistant Editor at The African Guardian, and as Executive Editor of TheNEWS and P.M. News.

Arrest, imprisonment, and release

In 1995, the military administration of

Sani Abacha Sani Abacha (20 September 1943 – 8 June 1998) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who ruled as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. He seized power on 17 November 1993 in the last successful c ...

announced the arrest of a number of Nigerians on suspicion of participating in a coup attempt. The list included former head of state

, his deputy

Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Shehu Musa Yar'Adua (5 March 1943 – 8 December 1997) was a Nigerian military officer and politician who was the ''de facto'' vice president of Nigeria as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters when Nigeria was under military rule from 1976 to ...

, among others. During the trial of the coup plotters, TheNews, one of Nigeria's prominent investigative and combative news magazines published a story titled "Not Guilty - Army Panel Clears Coup Suspects." And though he was no longer the editor of the paper as he was earlier in the year, because his name appeared on the mast head, Ajibade was targeted for arrest. He was charged for 'publishing materials which could obstruct the work of the coup plotters tribunal' and for 'misleading the public'. The crime was being "'as an accessary after the fact of treason" and the punishment was life in prison. It was the first time journalists would be tried (and convicted) with coup plotters in the country. Other journalists arrested at the same time were George Mbah of ''Tell Magazine'', Chris Anyanwu of ''The Sunday Magazine'', and Ben Obi of the ''Weekend Classique''. They were all convicted and sentenced to life in jail, while Yar'adua was sentenced to death. Ajibade was taken to Makurdi prisons, according to him, "to die incrementally". There was international outcry and the sentence for Ajibade was reduced to 15 years. On 8 June 1998, General Abacha died in office. Ajibade was released on 18 July of that year by General

Abdulsalami Abubakar Abdulsalami Abubakar (; born 13 June 1942) is a Nigerian statesman and retired Nigerian Army general who served as the ''de facto'' President of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He was also Chief of Defence Staff between 1997 and 1998. He succeede ...

Personal life

Ajibade is married, with 2 sons.

Books

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References

External links

English PEN Founded in 1921, English PEN is one of the world's first non-governmental organisations and among the first international bodies advocating for human rights. English PEN was the founding centre of PEN International, a worldwide writers' associati ...

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajibade, Kunle Living people 1958 births Nigerian journalists Obafemi Awolowo University alumni Nigerian writers