March 26, (THEWILL) – Former Chief of General Staff, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Diya, is dead.
Born April 3, 1944, Diya, who was Chief of General Staff under the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, from 1994 until his arrest for treason in 1997, died at the age of 78.
A statement signed by one of his children, Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family, said Diya died in the early hours of Sunday, March 26.
It reads: “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad, We announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Lt-General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.
“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.
“Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”
Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, and fought during the Civil War. He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji, (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.
While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree before proceeding to Law School, where he was called to the bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
