On 29 July 1966, during Nigeria’s military counter-coup, the then Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, was abducted from Government House, Ibadan, alongside his host, Lieutenant Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, and his Aide-de-Camp, Captain Andrew Nwankwo.

The operation was carried out by northern soldiers led by Major T. Y. Danjuma. Approximately two hours later, General Aguiyi-Ironsi and Lt. Col. Fajuyi were k*lled, while Captain Andrew Nwankwo miraculously escaped.

Captain Nwankwo’s survival has since been described as one of the most remarkable escapes of the July 1966 counter-coup. His escape was not accidental but rooted in a prior pact formed under the tense atmosphere that followed the January 1966 coup.

After the January coup, military barracks across Nigeria were gripped by suspicion and anxiety. Rumours of a counter-coup were widespread, fueled by the open agitation of some northern officers, including Major Hassan Katsina and Major Murtala Mohammed. It was within this climate of distrust that Captain Andrew Nwankwo had a heated argument with his close friend, Lieutenant Sanni Bello, who was then serving as an ADC. While Nwankwo believed northern officers were planning a retaliatory coup against what was perceived as an “Igbo coup,” Bello insisted that Igbo officers were preparing another takeover.

During this exchange, both officers made a solemn pact to protect each other should a counter-coup occur. According to Nwankwo, “Bello assured me that if it was his own people, he would protect me. The tension was such that we knew a coup was imminent. So, we agreed to protect each other, depending on where it came from.” This promise ultimately proved decisive.

When Danjuma and his northern troops took the trio of Ironsi, Fajuyi and Nwankwo, they used telephone cable to tie their hands behind and their legs, with a little space to walk. Ironsi was taken in a Land Rover. Fajuyi in a mini bus and Nwankwo in another bus.

They drove them towards Iwo Road, 10 km from Ibadan, there was a small forest were they stopped, and then marched them to the right hand side of the bush, Fajuyi was leading and as he tried to cross a small stream, he fell down, the soldiers were unruly, as it appeared that some of them had for the first time taken Indian h*mp, so when he fell down some of them started b*ating him.

As Fajuyi fell down and they were b*ating him, Sanni Bello came to Nwankwo and tapped him and said, “we could do something now”. Nwankwo then took a few steps from them and jumped into a nearby ditch, all in a split of a second, Bello came and stood by the ditch and was shouting that he had escaped pointing at another direction.

So the soldiers ran around that direction sh*oting into the bush, and when they felt they must have k*lled him, they sh*ot Fajuyi and then Ironsi there, by the side of the stream. After the k*lling, Bello was the last person to leave the place after making sure that Nwankwo escaped safely.

Captian Andrew Nwankwo later survived the subsequent civil war and later contested and won a Senate seat in 1983 to represent his people of Izzi/Anakaliki. (present Ebonyi state)

Taslim Olawale Elias remains one of Nigeria’s most distinguished legal minds and a towering figure in international jurisprudence. A scholar, administrator, and judge of global repute, Elias broke numerous barriers for Nigeria and Africa, culminating in his historic presidency of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). His life exemplifies intellectual excellence, public service, and global impact.

Early Life and Education

Taslim Olawale Elias was born on November 11, 1914, in Lagos, Nigeria. He received his early education at CMS Grammar School, Lagos, one of Nigeria’s oldest secondary schools, and later attended Igbobi College, Lagos, an institution known for producing many of Nigeria’s early intellectual leaders.

Elias proceeded to the University of London, where he studied law and earned a Doctorate (PhD) in Law in 1949. His doctoral work focused on African customary law and colonial legal systems, laying the foundation for his lifelong scholarly engagement with African jurisprudence.

Academic Career

Before Nigeria’s independence, Elias had already established himself as an internationally respected academic. He taught law at several prestigious institutions, including:

University of Manchester

University of Oxford

University of Delhi

He also served as an Oppenheimer Research Fellow, a position reserved for outstanding scholars. His academic writings during this period contributed significantly to the understanding and development of African legal systems within common law traditions.

Role in Nigeria’s Legal Development

Elias played a critical role in Nigeria’s constitutional and legal evolution. He was one of the architects of Nigeria’s Independence Constitution, helping to shape the legal framework of the new nation.

In 1958, he became Nigeria’s first Attorney-General, later serving as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice from 1960 to 1966. In this role, he was central to building Nigeria’s post-independence legal institutions.

He later joined the University of Lagos, where he became Professor of Law and Dean of the Faculty of Law, contributing to the training of generations of Nigerian lawyers.

Chief Justice of Nigeria

In 1972, Taslim Olawale Elias was appointed Chief Justice of the Federation, a position he held until 1975. His tenure was marked by judicial discipline, intellectual rigour, and respect for constitutionalism. He is remembered as a jurist who combined deep scholarship with judicial restraint.

International Court of Justice

Elias’ most globally significant contribution came with his appointment as a Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in 1975. He served on the court for ten years, gaining worldwide recognition for his legal reasoning and diplomatic skill.

Vice-President of the ICJ: 1979

President of the ICJ: 1981–1985

He became the first African ever to serve as President of the International Court of Justice, a milestone not only for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.

Scholarship and Honours

Taslim Olawale Elias was a prolific writer, authoring numerous influential legal texts that shaped legal education in Africa and beyond. His works addressed constitutional law, international law, and African customary law.

Over the course of his career, he received more than 15 honorary doctoral degrees from leading universities across Africa, Europe, and North America, reflecting the global esteem in which he was held.

Death and Legacy

Taslim Olawale Elias died in 1991, leaving behind an enduring legacy as one of Africa’s greatest jurists. His life demonstrated that intellectual excellence from Nigeria could command respect at the highest levels of global governance.

Today, he is remembered as:

A pioneer of Nigerian and African legal scholarship

A builder of post-independence Nigeria’s legal system

A global symbol of African excellence in international law

Taslim Olawale Elias’ journey from Lagos classrooms to the presidency of the world’s highest judicial body stands as one of Nigeria’s most remarkable intellectual achievements. His legacy continues to inspire lawyers, scholars, and public servants across generations.

Sources

1. International Court of Justice (ICJ) – Biographical Notes on Former Presidents and Judges

2. Elias, T. O., The Nigerian Legal System, London: Routledge

A Snapshot of Nigeria’s Late-Colonial Political Tensions
The image shows the front page of the Eastern Sentinel, a newspaper published in Enugu on Saturday, 6 September 1958, and sold for one penny. The edition offers a revealing glimpse into the political atmosphere of Eastern Nigeria in the final years before independence.
At the centre of the front page are reports of intense political rivalry, labour unrest, and public disputes among emerging nationalist leaders and organisations.

Political Conflict and Party Rivalries

One of the main headlines reports a statement by Mr C. O. Chiedozie, Secretary of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). He dismissed an ongoing dispute involving Mr Izuchukwu Areh of AFON as merely “kicking a dead horse”, signalling deep divisions and hostility within the region’s political landscape.
The exchange reflects the broader struggles for influence among political parties and pressure groups as Nigeria moved closer to self-government.

Labour Unrest and Municipal Governance

Another prominent story focuses on the Enugu Taxi Drivers Union, whose Secretary announced a vote of no confidence in the AFON-controlled Municipal Council. The union demanded an independent inquiry into the council’s activities, highlighting labour dissatisfaction and growing resistance to local government authorities.
This episode underscores the increasing role of trade unions as political actors in late-colonial Nigeria.

National Ambitions and Political Rumours

The newspaper also reports testimony by Dr K. O. Mbadiwe, Leader of the Democratic Party, in a court case concerning assassination rumours. Dr Mbadiwe stated unequivocally that he harboured no ambition to become Prime Minister of Nigeria, a declaration likely aimed at countering political suspicion and rivalry at the national level.
Such rumours were common in the volatile political climate of the 1950s, as regional leaders positioned themselves for influence in an independent Nigeria.

Social Announcements

Balancing politics with social life, the front page also carried a wedding announcement for Caroline Eke and Mr Christian Onoh, who was the Member for Udi Division in the House of Representatives. This inclusion reflects the traditional role of newspapers at the time as both political recorders and community noticeboards.

Historical Significance

This edition of the Eastern Sentinel captures:

The fragmentation and competition within nationalist politics

The political awakening of labour unions

The fragility of public trust in local governance

The intertwining of political and social life in pre-independence Nigeria

Together, these stories provide valuable insight into the political pressures and public discourse shaping Eastern Nigeria just two years before independence.

Source

Eastern Sentinel (Enugu), Saturday, 6 September 1958

Front-page archival newspaper image