Moshood Abiola – Nigeria
The wealthy man and politician apparently won the June 12, 1993, presidential election but the military, then headed by Ibrahim Babaginda annulled the results and called for fresh polls. This resulted in a political crisis which enabled General Sani Abacha to seize power later that year.
Abiola, however, declared himself president of Nigeria in 1994 in the Epetedo area of Lagos Island. He was subsequently arrested at his home, raising concerns from scores of people who reportedly marched through central Lagos to demand his immediate release.
Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other human rights activists from all over the world lobbied the Nigerian government for Abiola’s release. Abiola died on July 7, 1998, at the point of his release from detention. This was after his usurper, General Sanni Abacha who detained him died a month earlier.
