Officials Behind Rival’s Death in 1998, Panel Told

A retired army general testified about the 1998 death of opposition leader Moshood Abiola, alleging that officials of former military ruler Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar’s regime plotted to kill Abiola.

Retired Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Sabo was testifying before the nation’s Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission in Abuja, the capital. The panel is investigating the death of Abiola, a millionaire businessman who is believed to have won Nigeria’s 1993 presidential election, which was abruptly annulled by the army.

Abiola, who had spent four years in prison for claiming the presidency, died on the eve of his expected release. Authorities said Abiola died of heart disease, but suspicions have lingered that he was poisoned.