Lawan Gwadabe
Colonel Lawan Gwadabe was Military Administrator of Niger State in Nigeria from December 1987 to January 1992 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
He was accused of planning a coup against General Sani Abacha in 1995, for which he was jailed, tortured and convicted of treason.
After Abacha's death he was granted a state pardon.
Background and early military career
Gwadabe was born in 1949 in Jos, Plateau State, where he was brought up. His father was a Muslim of Yoruba origin from Niger State.
Major Gwadabe was involved in the coup of 27 August 1985, having just returned to 245 Recce Battalion (where he had previously been the Commanding Officer) from a course at the US Armour School, Fort Knox. He was one of the junior officers assigned the job of arresting the head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari, which they achieved without difficulty, replacing him with General Ibrahim Babangida.
After the coup, Gwadabe was appointed Chairman of the Nigerian National Shipping Line.
He was also Special Presidential Envoy and Chairman of the Sudan Peace Conference (1986–1990) and Special Presidential Envoy for Peace in Angola and Mozambique (1989–1990).
