Illiya Bisalla

Iliya D. Bisalla (died 11 March 1976) was a Major General in the Nigerian Army and Commissioner of Defence (title is now Minister of Defence) under the military administration of General Murtala Mohammed, the 4th Nigerian Head of State.^[1]

Major General Illiya Bisalla
Commissioner of Defence
In office 1975–1976
Preceded by	Gen. Yakubu Gowon
Succeeded by	Brig. O. Obasanjo
Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy
In office February 1975 – August 1975
Preceded by	Maj-Gen E.O. Ekpo
Succeeded by	Brig Gibson Jalo
General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army
In office September 1969 – December 1973
Preceded by	Gen. Mohammed Shuwa
Succeeded by	Brig. I.B. Haruna
Personal details
Died	11 March 1976 Nigeria
Alma mater	RMA Sandhurst
Military service
Branch/service	Nigerian Army
Years of service	1961–1976
Rank	Major General

Military career

Bisalla was a course mate of General Hassan Katsina at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.^[2] Before becoming the Defense Commissioner, General Bisalla was the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army from Sep 1969 to December 1973, ^[3] and also Commandant of the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna.^[4]

Implication and Conviction in the abortive February 1976 Coup Attempt

General Bisalla was implicated by Colonel Dimka's confessional statements after investigations into the abortive 13 February 1976 Dimka led coup which resulted in General Mohammed's assassination. Bisalla was controversially convicted of conspiracy and concealment of treason by the secret Special Military Tribunal; and as a result, Bisalla's complicity is not clear (e.g., the Federal Military Government (FMG) asserted that Bisalla gave Dimka operational orders while Dimka, under interrogation, stated that another officer (Major Rabo) provided the operational orders).^[5][6] Importantly, Dimka's confessional was not corroborated and Dimka was known to have provided inconsistent testimonies and drank beer while being interrogated.^[5]

Death

General Bisalla along with 31 other alleged co-conspirators some clearly guilty (such as Colonel Dimka and Lt. William Seri) and others whose guilt remain questionable (such as Joseph Gomwalk) were executed by firing squad on 11 March 1976.^[7]