Birth of Sani Abacha20 September 1943
Birth of Sani Abacha
Historical person
Sanni Abacha Biography
Historical biography and chronological timeline for Sanni Abacha, based on 17 World History Database records associated with Nigeria.
17 records1943–199812 events2 places
Chronological biography
1943
1983
Coup1983
Instrumental in a bloodless military coups dEtat that brings General Muhammadu Buhari to power
1985
Chief of Army Staff1985
When General Ibrahim Babangida is named President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abacha was named Chief of Army Staff
Coup1985
When General Ibrahim Babangida is named President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Abacha was named Chief of Army Staff. Instrumental in a bloodless military coups dEtat that removes General Muhammadu Buhari from power
1990
Secretary of State for Defence1990
Appointed Minister of Defence
Secretary of State for Defence1990
Appointed Minister of Defence
1993
Constitution of Nigeria17 November 1993
Abacha brings civilian rule to an end in Nigeria
Coup17 November 1993
Abacha takes over power from the caretaker Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General Babangida after his annulment of the 12 June 1993 elections (won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola) causes massive unrest. Abacha brings civilian rule to an end in Nigeria
Election17 November 1993
Abacha takes over power from the caretaker Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General Babangida after his annulment of the 12 June 1993 elections (won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola) causes massive unrest
President of Nigeria17 November 1993
Appointed President of Nigeria. Abacha takes over power from the caretaker Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General Babangida after his annulment of the 12 June 1993 elections (won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola) causes massive unrest
1995
Commonwealth10 November 1995
Ken Saro-Wiwa is hanged by Abacha, resulting in the immediate suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations
Death of Sanni Abacha10 November 1995
Ken Saro-Wiwa is hanged by Abacha, resulting in the immediate suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations. Abachas Government was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Auta tribunal
Politics10 November 1995
Abachas Government was accused of human rights abuses, especially after the hanging of Ogoni activist Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Auta tribunal
Auta Tribunal17 November 1995
Abacha takes over power from the caretaker Government of Chief Ernest Shonekan, which was put into place by General Babangida after his annulment of the 12 June 1993 elections (won by Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola) causes massive unrest
1998
Burial8 June 1998
Buried on the same day as his death without an autopsy fueling speculation that he may have been poisoned by political rivals
Death of Sanni Abacha8 June 1998
General Abacha dies, allegedly of a heart attack, in June 1998 while at the presidential villa in Abuja. Buried on the same day as his death without an autopsy fueling speculation that he may have been poisoned by political rivals
Death of Sanni Abacha8 June 1998
Death of Sani Abacha
Titles and roles
Chief of Army Staff · President of Nigeria · Secretary of State for Defence
Record provenance
This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.