Prominent Nigerians

Full Name: Kudirat Abiola
State of Origin: Ogun.
Ethnicity: Yoruba.
Date of Birth: 1951.  
Died: 09 June 1996 (aged 45)
Cause of Death: Assassinated
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Moshood Abiola
Children: Hafsat Olaronke Abiola (daughter)
Abdul Mumuni Abiola (son)
Khafila Abiola (daughter)
Olalekan Yusau Abiola (son) and many more
Parents: Mr and Mrs Adeyemi
Residence: Lagos, Nigeria
Language: Yoruba and English
Religion: Islam
Occupation: Politician

INTRODUCTION
Alhaja Kudirat Olayinka Adeyemi Abiola(Populaly Known as Kudirat Abiola) was born in 1951 in Zaria in Nigeria, She attended Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu Ode. She got married to Chief Moshood Abiola in 1972 at age 21.
Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was the second and senior wife of her husband.
She had seven children for are husband and they are Yusau Olalekan, Hafsat Olaronke,Abdul Mumuni Khafila,Hadi, Moriam,Jamiu Abiodunand Olalekan Yusau Abiola.
She was assassinated whilst her husband, Moshood Abiola was being detained by the Nigerian Government. Her husband was the winning candidate in Nigerian elections and he was arrested shortly after the elections.
EDUCATION
She attended Muslim Girls High School, Ijebu Ode
In May 1996, the month before Kudirat Abiola was mercilessly gunned down, she had been briefly detained for a few hours for allegedly possessing publications critical of the Nigerian military government headed by General Sani Abacha. Although her husband and billionaire businessman, Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, was already jailed over charges of treason, Kudirat became the tireless advocate for his freedom and return of his mandate. The beautiful woman soon became one of the most dreaded foes of Abacha.
On a Tuesday, 4th of June, 1996, around 3:05 pm one of the most senseless murders in Nigeria was carried out. A sparkling white Mercedes Benz V-Boot was cruising along the streets of Lagos. As the car slowed down around 7-Up Depot/Bus Stop in Ikeja, they were attacked by six men who suddenly opened fire on the German machine: Mrs. Abiola, her assistant (who had just been released by the police) and chauffeur were in the car.
Kudirat Abiola fell to bullets from a P 90 riffle, allegedly on the orders of the state. That death brought a beautiful, brilliant and bold life, which Kudirat was generally believed to have lived to an untimely end.
Aside terminating a promising and inspiring life at 44 on that Tuesday, June 4, 1996, a new chapter was opened in Nigeria’s chequered political history, as the deceased became one of the prominent matyrs in the struggle for a truly democratic nation.

LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
She got married to Chief Mushood Abiola at 21 in a union that was blessed with seven children.
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT KUDIRAT ABIOLA
Alhaja Kudirat Abiola became an activist when the government of Nigeria shattered her life. Her husband, Chief Moshood Abiola, is widely believed to have won the annulled June 1993 presidential election and has been detained on a treason charge since June. 1994. From the time of his arrest, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola courageously called for her husband's release despite constant and vindictive harassment of her family and supporters by the government.
When the Nigerian government allows their forces to abduct, kill or imprison political opponents, it hopes that these acts of violence and its victims will be quickly forgotten. But Nigerian authorities have not reckoned on the determination and courage of the victim's relatives-often the wives, sister or mothers whose lives have been completely disrupted by Nigeria's arbitrary use of its powers. These women frequently transform their lives overnight to become crusaders for justice. They will not let the authorities get away with their crimes unchallenged.
Kudirat Abiola gave interviews on several occasions to the foreign and Nigerian press in which she called for her husband's release and accused the government of destroying her family financially. On May 8, 1996 the Lagos High Court acquitted her of charges of conspiracy and making false statements. She was charged again with these oflcnses on May 28, 1996 and the Lagos High Court ordered her release on bail to await trial on July 17. Despite this harassment, Kudirat Abiola continued her outspoken campaign on behalf of her husband.
AFTER HER DEATH:
In October 1998 Major Hamza Al-Mustapha appeared in court with the previous President Abacha's son Mohammed, charged with the murder of Kudirat Abiola. At the trial the self-confessed killer, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila, said he was obeying orders from his superior, al-Mustapha.
On 30 June 2012 Hamza Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan were sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. Al Mustapha had been a Presidential Chief security officer whilst Shofolahan had been his victim's personal assistant. The two were later released on appeal by a court in Lagos. Abiola remains a symbol of Nigeria's struggle for democracy. Nineteen years after her death there were demonstrations at her graveside.