Victor Malu
Encyclopedia
Lt. General Victor Samuel Leonard Malu DSS mni fwc psc was commander of the ECOMOG peace-keeping force in Liberia from December 1996 to April 1998, and was Chief of Army Staff (Nigeria
) from May 1999 until April 2001.
, Benue State
of Tiv
origins.
He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy
, Kaduna
. and was enlisted into the Nigerian army upon graduation.
Later he attended Command and Staff College, Jaji and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru, Jos
.
Malu became General Officer Training, Army Headquarters and Commander, 7 Mechanised Brigade.
He chaired the tribunal that tried General Oladipo Diya
and other officers for attempting to overthrow the Sani Abacha regime in 1997.
Malu was commander of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) peace-keeping force ECOMOG from December 1996 to April 1998 during the First Liberian Civil War.
Malu impressed both Liberians and international observers with the improvements that followed his taking command.
By March 1997 he was able to claim that Liberia was completely cleared of land mines.
He fell out with Liberian President Charles Taylor, who in April 1998 accused him of trying to run a parallel government. It was due to this rift that Malu was replaced as commander.
In a book he wrote later, cited at Taylor's trial in The Hague, Malu reportedly claimed that in 1997 Taylor secretly smuggled arms and ammunition from South Africa through the Monrovia
without informing ECOMOG peacekeepers.
Malu was appointed Chief of Army Staff in May 1999 at the start of President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and was dismissed in April 2001.
Later, Malu said he warned President Olusegun Obasanjo to guard against American involvement in the nation's affairs, saying they were only aiming to further their own interests. He claimed that it was because the Americans disliked his views that Obasanjo fired him before the signing of the Nigerian-United States Military Cooperation Agreement.
He was awarded Force Service Star (FSS) Award, Meritorious Service Star (MSS) Award, and Distinguished Service Star (DSS) Award.
people in in Zaki Biam, Katsina-Ala
local government, Benue State
.
19 soldiers sent to restore peace were killed.
In retaliation, the army allegedly massacred 100 people.
Malu said armed men burst into his own home and killed four of his household before burning down neighbouring houses.
In July 2005 Malu complained that the government was persecuting him. He said the State Security Services had seized his passport on the basis that he had been "going to Paris frequently and was holding meetings with people who do not mean well for the country." He also said that his military service records had been declared missing and he was not getting fair treatment over his pension.
In January 2006 he caused controversy when he spoke at a meeting of the Arewa Consultative Forum
in Kaduna, saying he regretted not having overthrown Obasanjo]]'s government while he was COAS. The president's Public Affairs Assistant, Femi Fani-Kayode
, said Malu’s statement was treasonable.
In September 2008 Malu, a diabetic, went into a coma and was rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was placed on life support in the intensive care unit.
Later he was transferred to a hospital in London, and after treatment for stroke was discharged from hospital to his Central London home in April 2009.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
) from May 1999 until April 2001.
Birth and education
Malu was born on 15 January 1947 at Katsina-AlaKatsina-Ala
Katsina-Ala is a Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Katsina-Ala where the A344 highway starts...
, Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
of Tiv
Tiv
Tiv are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. They constitute approximately 2.5% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5.6 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv are the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Tiv language is spoken by about 6...
origins.
He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy
Nigerian Defence Academy
The Nigerian Defence Academy at Kaduna is the only Military University in Nigeria.The NDA was established in January 1964 as a reformation of the British run Royal Military Forces Training College , which had been renamed the Nigerian Military Training College on independence...
, Kaduna
Kaduna
Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census...
. and was enlisted into the Nigerian army upon graduation.
Later he attended Command and Staff College, Jaji and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies, Kuru, Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
.
Military career
At the time of the February 1976 coup when General Olusegun Obasanjo took power, Malu was chief instructor of the Nigerian Military School, Zaria. After the coup, Malu was interrogated for two weeks but released.Malu became General Officer Training, Army Headquarters and Commander, 7 Mechanised Brigade.
He chaired the tribunal that tried General Oladipo Diya
Oladipo Diya
Donaldson Oladipo Diya is a retired Lt. General in the Nigerian Army.He was appointed Military Governor of Ogun State from January 1984 to August 1985....
and other officers for attempting to overthrow the Sani Abacha regime in 1997.
Malu was commander of the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
(ECOWAS) peace-keeping force ECOMOG from December 1996 to April 1998 during the First Liberian Civil War.
Malu impressed both Liberians and international observers with the improvements that followed his taking command.
By March 1997 he was able to claim that Liberia was completely cleared of land mines.
He fell out with Liberian President Charles Taylor, who in April 1998 accused him of trying to run a parallel government. It was due to this rift that Malu was replaced as commander.
In a book he wrote later, cited at Taylor's trial in The Hague, Malu reportedly claimed that in 1997 Taylor secretly smuggled arms and ammunition from South Africa through the Monrovia
Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately...
without informing ECOMOG peacekeepers.
Malu was appointed Chief of Army Staff in May 1999 at the start of President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and was dismissed in April 2001.
Later, Malu said he warned President Olusegun Obasanjo to guard against American involvement in the nation's affairs, saying they were only aiming to further their own interests. He claimed that it was because the Americans disliked his views that Obasanjo fired him before the signing of the Nigerian-United States Military Cooperation Agreement.
He was awarded Force Service Star (FSS) Award, Meritorious Service Star (MSS) Award, and Distinguished Service Star (DSS) Award.
Later career
In October 2001 there were protests by TivTiv
Tiv are an ethno-linguistic group or ethnic nation in West Africa. They constitute approximately 2.5% of Nigeria's total population, and number over 5.6 million individuals throughout Nigeria and Cameroon. The Tiv are the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria. Tiv language is spoken by about 6...
people in in Zaki Biam, Katsina-Ala
Katsina-Ala
Katsina-Ala is a Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Katsina-Ala where the A344 highway starts...
local government, Benue State
Benue State
Benue is a state in the Middle-Belt region of Nigeria with a population of about 2.8 million in 1991. Tiv, Idoma, and Igede are spoken predominantly. There are other ethnic groups as well. These include Etulo and Abakwa...
.
19 soldiers sent to restore peace were killed.
In retaliation, the army allegedly massacred 100 people.
Malu said armed men burst into his own home and killed four of his household before burning down neighbouring houses.
In July 2005 Malu complained that the government was persecuting him. He said the State Security Services had seized his passport on the basis that he had been "going to Paris frequently and was holding meetings with people who do not mean well for the country." He also said that his military service records had been declared missing and he was not getting fair treatment over his pension.
In January 2006 he caused controversy when he spoke at a meeting of the Arewa Consultative Forum
Arewa Consultative Forum
The Arewa Consultative Forum is a political and cultural association of leaders in Northern Nigeria formed in 2000 which has considerable influence in the political scene...
in Kaduna, saying he regretted not having overthrown Obasanjo]]'s government while he was COAS. The president's Public Affairs Assistant, Femi Fani-Kayode
Femi Fani-Kayode
David Oluwafemi Adewunmi Abdulateef Fani-Kayode is a Nigerian politician, essayist, poet and lawyer. He is a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party . He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, on 16 October 1960 to Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode and to Chief Adia Adunni...
, said Malu’s statement was treasonable.
In September 2008 Malu, a diabetic, went into a coma and was rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was placed on life support in the intensive care unit.
Later he was transferred to a hospital in London, and after treatment for stroke was discharged from hospital to his Central London home in April 2009.