You know anything Abiyamo writes is always a blockbuster and
a must read. Enjoy!
Gloria Okon was caught in 1985 with heroin in Nigeria and
died in very controversial circumstances.
died in very controversial circumstances.
FULL NAMES (alternate names): Miss Gloria Okon
BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS
She was born in 1950.
HER ARREST
On the 22nd April, 1985, a petite society lady, Gloria Okon,
was about to board a Nigeria Airways aircraft WT840 (Lagos-Kano-London) at the
Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State when she was arrested with
substances suspected to be heroin and other hard drugs (the National Security
Organization, NSO or Nigeria’s secret intelligence agency is often mentioned in
her arrest). Tucked in internally were 56.70 grammes of the substances. She was
also caught with the sum of N20,000, 60 pounds sterling, $301 and 19,000
Italian lira. The customs officers and drug law enforcement agents were very
excited to have nabbed her, not because they had caught her alone but because
they would also be stars of the show for a while as all the arrests were being
made by their counterparts at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in
Lagos. But their jowls of excitement were pangs of sheer agony for the
35-year-old Okon. Why?
was about to board a Nigeria Airways aircraft WT840 (Lagos-Kano-London) at the
Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano State when she was arrested with
substances suspected to be heroin and other hard drugs (the National Security
Organization, NSO or Nigeria’s secret intelligence agency is often mentioned in
her arrest). Tucked in internally were 56.70 grammes of the substances. She was
also caught with the sum of N20,000, 60 pounds sterling, $301 and 19,000
Italian lira. The customs officers and drug law enforcement agents were very
excited to have nabbed her, not because they had caught her alone but because
they would also be stars of the show for a while as all the arrests were being
made by their counterparts at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in
Lagos. But their jowls of excitement were pangs of sheer agony for the
35-year-old Okon. Why?
The year was 1985 and anyone caught with drugs would face
the death penalty, no stories. That was the provision of the Decree 20 put in
place by the junta of General Muhammadu Buhari . She was going to die, and she
knew it. Stunned and stupefied at her sudden stare at death, Okon became an
unwilling and helpless star before the nation’s news-thirsty media. Newspapers
and magazines contained her story and the radios gave the chilly broadcast. For
many who read the story or heard the announcement, it was not a big deal they
thought, she was going to be executed like others. But then, there would be a
twist in Okon’s story that would turn her into the most mysterious drug pusher
in Nigeria’s history. What happened next still remains very bizarre even 30
years after.
the death penalty, no stories. That was the provision of the Decree 20 put in
place by the junta of General Muhammadu Buhari . She was going to die, and she
knew it. Stunned and stupefied at her sudden stare at death, Okon became an
unwilling and helpless star before the nation’s news-thirsty media. Newspapers
and magazines contained her story and the radios gave the chilly broadcast. For
many who read the story or heard the announcement, it was not a big deal they
thought, she was going to be executed like others. But then, there would be a
twist in Okon’s story that would turn her into the most mysterious drug pusher
in Nigeria’s history. What happened next still remains very bizarre even 30
years after.
DEATH
On the 28th April, six days after her arrest, the most
unexpected happened: Gloria Okon died in custody. From an ordinary ‘heroin
suspect’, the sudden demise of Okon led to what is now one of the most enduring
narcodramas in Nigeria. She did not just die, she died in very questionable and
mysterious circumstances. The Buhari regime would not bury the case and an
investigation was launched into the matter, with a judicial commission of
inquiry given the complicated task of unraveling all the circumstances
surrounding the very suspicious death of Okon who gave up the ghost at the
Aminu Kano Hospital, Kano.
unexpected happened: Gloria Okon died in custody. From an ordinary ‘heroin
suspect’, the sudden demise of Okon led to what is now one of the most enduring
narcodramas in Nigeria. She did not just die, she died in very questionable and
mysterious circumstances. The Buhari regime would not bury the case and an
investigation was launched into the matter, with a judicial commission of
inquiry given the complicated task of unraveling all the circumstances
surrounding the very suspicious death of Okon who gave up the ghost at the
Aminu Kano Hospital, Kano.
INVESTIGATIONS
The judicial commission of enquiry working on the Okon case
was headed by Justice CNO Ubbaonu of the Kano High Court. It began its sitting
in Kano almost three months (precisely 5th Monday, August) after she died.
Other members of the panel were:
was headed by Justice CNO Ubbaonu of the Kano High Court. It began its sitting
in Kano almost three months (precisely 5th Monday, August) after she died.
Other members of the panel were:
Wing Commander PG Asemota
Tunde Oloko, a university don
JI Obianwu, who was the secretary
The case was so serious that the Inspector-General Etim
Inyang was mandated to ensure there is a reasonable conclusion to the case and
to make sure all the mysteries are solved. The commission was to carry out
three main tasks:
Inyang was mandated to ensure there is a reasonable conclusion to the case and
to make sure all the mysteries are solved. The commission was to carry out
three main tasks:
Make proper inquiry as to the arrest and death of Gloria
Okon
Okon
Determine whether during the period of her arrest and
custody, if any person(s) contributed to her death through acts incidental to
the case
custody, if any person(s) contributed to her death through acts incidental to
the case
Make suitable recommendations
But that would never happen: on the 27th of that same
August, the military regime of Buhari was toppled by General Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida and till date, no one knows how it all ended and the demise remains a
mystery. However, it must be stated that before she died, Okon reportedly
confessed and revealed a ‘big baron’, as a matter of fact, a customs official
said of her revelation:
August, the military regime of Buhari was toppled by General Ibrahim Badamasi
Babangida and till date, no one knows how it all ended and the demise remains a
mystery. However, it must be stated that before she died, Okon reportedly
confessed and revealed a ‘big baron’, as a matter of fact, a customs official
said of her revelation:
‘If carefully handled, she may lead us to the big brains
behind the business.’
behind the business.’
But before Okon could even mention the name of her mentor or
sponsor, she was stone-dead. According to those who investigated her case and
questioned her, the only clue she left was simply the name ‘Bassey’. Ibrahim
Coomasie was the commissioner of police for Kano State and he stated that it
was almost impossible to track her mentor because Okon did not give the second
name of Bassey or even an address, so the investigation met a dead end. The
address that was listed against her name, 21 Cole Street, Surulere, Lagos was
found to be non-existent.
sponsor, she was stone-dead. According to those who investigated her case and
questioned her, the only clue she left was simply the name ‘Bassey’. Ibrahim
Coomasie was the commissioner of police for Kano State and he stated that it
was almost impossible to track her mentor because Okon did not give the second
name of Bassey or even an address, so the investigation met a dead end. The
address that was listed against her name, 21 Cole Street, Surulere, Lagos was
found to be non-existent.
However, it must be pointed out that although Okon was just
one of the many female carriers arrested, she was the only drug mule very
willing to cooperate and say it all, revealing all information on her sponsors.
But before she could utter anything, she was gone. An autopsy conducted stated
the cause of death as food poisoning. There was no time Okon showed any sign of
ill-health, she was quite healthy when she was arrested as the public inquiry
found out but according to Misharck Okitiakpo, a customs officer who kept her
in custody, Gloria Okon fell ill just a day after she was arrested. Okitiakpo
also explained that on the day she was arrested (22nd), Okon made a request for
rice and beans which she was given. But on the 23rd and 24th, she was rushed to
the hospital after she complained.
one of the many female carriers arrested, she was the only drug mule very
willing to cooperate and say it all, revealing all information on her sponsors.
But before she could utter anything, she was gone. An autopsy conducted stated
the cause of death as food poisoning. There was no time Okon showed any sign of
ill-health, she was quite healthy when she was arrested as the public inquiry
found out but according to Misharck Okitiakpo, a customs officer who kept her
in custody, Gloria Okon fell ill just a day after she was arrested. Okitiakpo
also explained that on the day she was arrested (22nd), Okon made a request for
rice and beans which she was given. But on the 23rd and 24th, she was rushed to
the hospital after she complained.
But that is where Okitiakpo’s accounts stopped. He did not
explain or was unable to explain what happened from the 25th to the 28th when
Okon finally breathed her last. Okon had been in the custody of the Customs
until the 25th when she was handed to the police. Therefore, it is not
precisely clear whether she was poisoned while with the customs or under the
police custody where she eventually died. In an interview with The Guardian in
May 1985, Coomasie said Okon had changed saying:
explain or was unable to explain what happened from the 25th to the 28th when
Okon finally breathed her last. Okon had been in the custody of the Customs
until the 25th when she was handed to the police. Therefore, it is not
precisely clear whether she was poisoned while with the customs or under the
police custody where she eventually died. In an interview with The Guardian in
May 1985, Coomasie said Okon had changed saying:
‘…the late suspect was not talking when she was brought to
the police and did not make any statement to the police, when the police took
custody of Okon, she looked weird and neither ate nor talked. ’
the police and did not make any statement to the police, when the police took
custody of Okon, she looked weird and neither ate nor talked. ’
But later, she was given some egusi soup by the police
(egusi with what? Abi she drink the egusi ni, police no tell us that one). The
police also said she took some bananas and tea after the egusi. Amazing food
combination: egusi, banana and tea.
(egusi with what? Abi she drink the egusi ni, police no tell us that one). The
police also said she took some bananas and tea after the egusi. Amazing food
combination: egusi, banana and tea.
The mystery of Okon’s case was further deepened when no one
showed up to claim her, not even one relative showed to identify her as a
suspect or even her corpse. According to Babadisa Ciroma, an assistant
commissioner of police (ACP) who was in charge of Okon’s interrogation said no
one paid her a visit while in custody or even when she was admitted at the
hospital. That was not all, 39 days after her death Okon’s corpse remained
unclaimed at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital Mortuary where it was deposited.
This prompted the police force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to issue
a notice that her remains might be treated as unknown if it not claimed after
seven days of warning to the general public. Apparently embarrassed by the
mysterious death of Okon in custody and to prevent a repeat, the government
compelled state police commands to transfer suspects and exhibits in cases of
hard drugs to the Force CID Headquarters in Lagos by ‘the most expedient
means’.
showed up to claim her, not even one relative showed to identify her as a
suspect or even her corpse. According to Babadisa Ciroma, an assistant
commissioner of police (ACP) who was in charge of Okon’s interrogation said no
one paid her a visit while in custody or even when she was admitted at the
hospital. That was not all, 39 days after her death Okon’s corpse remained
unclaimed at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital Mortuary where it was deposited.
This prompted the police force Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to issue
a notice that her remains might be treated as unknown if it not claimed after
seven days of warning to the general public. Apparently embarrassed by the
mysterious death of Okon in custody and to prevent a repeat, the government
compelled state police commands to transfer suspects and exhibits in cases of
hard drugs to the Force CID Headquarters in Lagos by ‘the most expedient
means’.
The Nigerian nation was supposed to hear from the judicial
commission of inquiry by the end of August and shed light on the case but by
the end of August, a new leader was in place and he was a military president:
IBB. The late lawyer Gani Fawehinmi attempted to resurrect the case but this
put him on a path of direct clash with Haliru Akilu and Kunle Togun, two of
IBB’s most dreaded security agents. No one was ever charged over the death of
Gloria Okon.
commission of inquiry by the end of August and shed light on the case but by
the end of August, a new leader was in place and he was a military president:
IBB. The late lawyer Gani Fawehinmi attempted to resurrect the case but this
put him on a path of direct clash with Haliru Akilu and Kunle Togun, two of
IBB’s most dreaded security agents. No one was ever charged over the death of
Gloria Okon.
THE CONTROVERSIES
In the absence of a conclusive investigation, so many tales
have been spun by many so as to fill in the gaps. According to some, Okon never
died, the corpse presented was all a ruse and part of a grand conspiracy. In
June 2009, Professor Taiyemiwo Ogunade, in an interview with THE NATION said of
the Okon case:
have been spun by many so as to fill in the gaps. According to some, Okon never
died, the corpse presented was all a ruse and part of a grand conspiracy. In
June 2009, Professor Taiyemiwo Ogunade, in an interview with THE NATION said of
the Okon case:
‘Gloria Okon is actually Chinyere, that’s her real name. She
married Charles “Jeff” Chandler, the fellow who killed Nzeogwu and was killed a
day later. Chinyere, Maryam and Princess Atta were young friends who hung out
together. They all married into the military, because the military was a proud
and respectable profession then. Charles Chandler, who was Tiv, married
Chinyere who I think is from Imo State. IBB married Maryam from Asaba and
Mamman Vatsa married the princess. So Chinyere became a widow and resorted to
trading between UK and Nigeria. And then she was caught with drugs; Mamman
Vatsa was the person who put Chinyere on the next available flight from Kano to
London – and then claimed that she was dead by parading a dead woman picked out
of the mortuary. Dele Giwa later found out that she was in London having
delivered a baby by another man.
married Charles “Jeff” Chandler, the fellow who killed Nzeogwu and was killed a
day later. Chinyere, Maryam and Princess Atta were young friends who hung out
together. They all married into the military, because the military was a proud
and respectable profession then. Charles Chandler, who was Tiv, married
Chinyere who I think is from Imo State. IBB married Maryam from Asaba and
Mamman Vatsa married the princess. So Chinyere became a widow and resorted to
trading between UK and Nigeria. And then she was caught with drugs; Mamman
Vatsa was the person who put Chinyere on the next available flight from Kano to
London – and then claimed that she was dead by parading a dead woman picked out
of the mortuary. Dele Giwa later found out that she was in London having
delivered a baby by another man.
He sent a French photographer to the place and
they saw Maryam Babangida at the event. Kayode Soyinka brought back the
photographs. Dele was sitting across the table from Kayode examining the photos
taken of “Gloria Okon” (Chinyere, Richard Chandler’s wife) at the naming
ceremony in London. Maryam Babangida was there. And then a letter parcel was
delivered to him and he said excitedly that it must be from “Mr. President”
referring to the discussions he had with IBB days earlier. The bomb exploded
and severed his lower abdomen; he died a few hours later.’
they saw Maryam Babangida at the event. Kayode Soyinka brought back the
photographs. Dele was sitting across the table from Kayode examining the photos
taken of “Gloria Okon” (Chinyere, Richard Chandler’s wife) at the naming
ceremony in London. Maryam Babangida was there. And then a letter parcel was
delivered to him and he said excitedly that it must be from “Mr. President”
referring to the discussions he had with IBB days earlier. The bomb exploded
and severed his lower abdomen; he died a few hours later.’
Some others say Dele Giwa knew that Okon was Maryam Babangida
(or even IBB)’s drug mule and wanted to blackmail IBB, which is why he was
killed.Newswatch has denied any link between their late founder who was killed
by a parcel bomb in 1986.
(or even IBB)’s drug mule and wanted to blackmail IBB, which is why he was
killed.Newswatch has denied any link between their late founder who was killed
by a parcel bomb in 1986.
Tom Mbeke-Ekanem in his book, Beyond the Execution:
Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria insisted the corpse
sent to Calabar to Okon’s family was a fake corpse and that the family returned
it saying it was not the corpse of their daughter, but that the authorities
insisted the corpse was that of Okon. The claim was that the real Okon was
freed to go live overseas and replaced with an unclaimed corpse brought in from
the mortuary. The crazy controversies around the case prompted the Federal
Government to make attempts to unearth everything thus launching the public
commission.
Understanding the Ethnic and Military Politics in Nigeria insisted the corpse
sent to Calabar to Okon’s family was a fake corpse and that the family returned
it saying it was not the corpse of their daughter, but that the authorities
insisted the corpse was that of Okon. The claim was that the real Okon was
freed to go live overseas and replaced with an unclaimed corpse brought in from
the mortuary. The crazy controversies around the case prompted the Federal
Government to make attempts to unearth everything thus launching the public
commission.
According to others, she was a drug mule for the former
Nigerian First Lady Maryam Babangida shuttling between the USA and Britain and
she was killed so she would not squeal. As it is now, the truth is hanging
somewhere, and the only way I think Nigerians will eventually get to know the
truth is when a government comes and re-opens the case and declassifying all
the documents relating to the case. Whether that will take 10 or 100 years, no
one knows. But before then, the story of Gloria Okon is one eerie chapter that
will continue to haunt the world’s largest black nation.
Nigerian First Lady Maryam Babangida shuttling between the USA and Britain and
she was killed so she would not squeal. As it is now, the truth is hanging
somewhere, and the only way I think Nigerians will eventually get to know the
truth is when a government comes and re-opens the case and declassifying all
the documents relating to the case. Whether that will take 10 or 100 years, no
one knows. But before then, the story of Gloria Okon is one eerie chapter that
will continue to haunt the world’s largest black nation.
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
ABIYAMO.
(Courtesy: naijarchives.com)
REFERENCES
Ben Edokpayi, Who Killed Gloria Okon, Newswatch, August 12,
1985.
1985.
Mohammed Buba Marwa Delivered The Letter Bomb That Killed
Dele Giwa – Professor Taiyemiwo Ogunade, June 2009.
Dele Giwa – Professor Taiyemiwo Ogunade, June 2009.
Trials & Triumphs: The Story of THENEWS by Wale
Adebanwi.
Adebanwi.
Beyond the Execution: Understanding the Ethnic and Military
Politics in Nigeria by Tom Mbeke-Ekanem.
Politics in Nigeria by Tom Mbeke-Ekanem.
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