Daniel Etim-Effiong recounts father’s arrest, death sentence during military era
Actor Daniel Etim-Effiong has opened up about his father’s arrest and death sentence during Nigeria’s military era over alleged links to a coup plot against former Head of State, Ibrahim
Actor Daniel Etim-Effiong has opened up about his father’s arrest and death sentence during Nigeria’s military era over alleged links to a coup plot against former Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.
Speaking on the ‘Diary of a Naija Girl’ podcast, Etim-Effiong said the incident occurred when he was still a baby.
He explained that his father became entangled in the situation after a close associate in the military shared information about plans to remove the then Head of State from power, leaving him uncertain about how to respond.
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According to him, when the plot was later uncovered, the associate was arrested and mentioned his father during interrogation, leading to his arrest, trial, and conviction in connection with the case.
Etim-Effiong said his father was sentenced to death by firing squad but was spared on the day the sentence was to be carried out.
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He described the outcome as unexpected, noting that his father survived what appeared to be a certain fate.
The actor added that the experience left a lasting impact on his family and shaped his early life, as they lived with the memory of that period.
He said, “I was one year old when he was arrested for a coup against President Ibrahim Babangida. His best friend in the army had told him of plans that he had to kick Babangida out of power. And the big question became for him, should he tell on his friend or should he not tell on his friend?
"When the whole thing was leaked, my dad’s best friend was arrested, and they asked him, ‘Who did you tell about this coup plot?’ And he said he told my dad. My dad was arrested as well, and he was tried and sentenced to death by a firing squad. Miraculously, he survived that ordeal".
