Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (retd.), has written a book entitled Vindication of The General, which he says is intended to correct misinformation about his life under late Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

“I have written a book for people to know what really happened to me during my active service inside and outside government,” he said when he received Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who paid him a condolence visit on Sunday in Zuru, Kebbi State, over the death of a relation.

He said the date for the launching of the book will be made public as soon as arrangements are concluded.

Bamaiyi, was charged with attempt to murder former Minister of the Interior and Publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Alex Ibru, on February 2, 1996.

He was arrested in October and detained at a military barracks, from where he was taken to Lagos to face trial along with James Danbaba, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos; Major Hamzat al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer to Abacha; and Mohammed Rabo Lawal, a Chief Superintendent of Police among others.

Although Bamaiyi and four others were formally charged in Ikeja on November 23 1999 with conspiracy and attempted murder, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his release “pending the determination of a substantive suit he filed.”

A petition for his release by his brother, Senator Danladi Bamaiyi, who in November 1999 was Chairman of Senate Committee on Economic Affairs, was not successful.

In December 1999, Lt.-General Ishaya Bamaiyi reportedly applied for bail claiming that he “was not involved in any human rights violations or the attempted murder of Ibru.”

However, the prosecution argued against the application claiming that if granted, not only would he jump bail, but that it was also likely, given his social status, professional training, especially in security matters, that he would “tamper with” prosecution witnesses.

He charged elders and youths of Zuru Emirate to desist from acts that have brought political, social and economic underdevelopment of the area.

“Eight people expressed their desire to aspire for Governorship from the emirate during our agitation for power in 2015 and the emirate was asked to produce a governor.

“At the end of the day, the three that emerged as aspirants did not make it.

“Your religion is between you and your God and not with a fellow human being,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the Deputy Senate Leader for the condolence visit and the long standing relationship.

“Na’Allah has been in the team of my lawyers during my trials,” Bamaiyi said.

Na’Allah, condoled Bamaiyi, his family, the people of Zuru and Kebbi State over the loss.

“I have made it a duty that whoever has a hand in making me what I am today will always be remembered and carried along,” he said.

Late Habila Andrew Nama, the relation of Bamaiyi who died in Port Harcourt after a protective illness, is survived by a wife and three children.

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