Akinloye Akinyemi

Akinloye Akinyemi was born in 1954 in Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria. He attended Government College, Ibadan, cadet unit, military training bush camp in Igbo-Ora, Oyo State in 1960s and Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna State where he became the best army cadet during his graduation in 1970s. He went to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he won the Cane of Honour as the Best Overseas Cadet, before preceding to Royal Military College of Science, where he graduated with a first class degree in electrical engineering. During his military career, he served in the Nigerian Army Signal Corps. He was the younger brother of Bolaji Akinyemi, a former minister of external affairs. He was also known as Sergeant Carter, a nickname he earned from his colleagues for his strictness and discipline. He was arrested, tried and sentenced in 1987 and 1995 for alleged coup plotting against Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha respectively. He was found not guilty of treason, but served a five-year prison sentence after getting convicted of a lesser, disciplinary offence in 1987. He was sentenced to death, but later commuted to life imprisonment in 1995. He was granted clemency and pardoned in 1999 by the military government of Abdulsalami Abubakar. He died in 2012 and was buried at the Victoria Court Cemetery, Lekki, Lagos, after his funeral service was held at Redeemed Christian Church of God, The Lord Central Parish, Lekki. He was described as a man of courage, transparency and compassion by his friends and family.