I am responsible for June 12 Presidential Annulment, Former Judge Speaks

 

The judge who pronounced the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Dahiru Saleh, has absolved former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, of blame in the controversial decision.

The election, won by late business mogul, MKO Abiola, was cancelled by the Babangida administration, and Mr. Babangida has personally taken responsibility for the decision.

But speaking in an interviewI a, Mr. Saleh said the former leader did not direct him to annul the end election.

"The former president did nothing of the sort," said Mr. Saleh on whether Mr. Babangida forced the judgment on him.

"There were so many cases and I cannot remember all the cases off-hand. There was the case against MKO Abiola and it was before one of my judges; she was Igbo but I can't remember her name. She started the case, then fell sick and was flown out of the country for treatment.

"Then there was another case against him (MKO Abiola) and I had to transfer the case from the other judge's court to my court. During that time it turned that Abiola didn't even finish the case before he disappeared. Later, I learnt he had been arrested by authorities."