Mohammed Lawal

For the Nigerian footballer, see Mohammed Lawal (footballer).

Rear Admiral
Mohammed Alabi Lawal
Governor of Kwara State
In office
29 May 1999 – 29 May 2003
Preceded byRasheed Shekoni
Succeeded byBukola Saraki
Military Governor of Ogun State
In office
December 1987 – August 1990
Preceded byRaji Alagbe Rasaki
Succeeded byOladeinde Joseph
Personal details
Born24 January 1946
Ilorin[1]
Died15 November 2006(2006-11-15) (aged 60)
NationalityNigerian
Military service
Allegiance Nigeria
Branch/service Nigerian Navy
Rank Rear Admiral

Mohammed Alabi Lawal Yoruba pronunciationⓘ; January 24, 1946 – November 15, 2006) was a Nigerian naval officer who was military governor of Ogun State between December 1987 and August 1990 during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida.[2] He was one of the pioneers of the Nigeria Navy Secondary School Abeokuta.The then Navy Captain Mohammed Lawal, invited the Nigerian Navy to consider a location of the defunct St Leo's Teachers' Training College at Ibara Abeokuta (www.nnssab.net)on a hilly Onikolobo site. This premises had been abandoned and merely serve as a route to the Catholic Compound and was also used for administering a newly conceived secondary school in that name. The Nigerian Navy considered the site and found it suitable. After the return to democracy in 1999 he was elected governor of Kwara State, holding office from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003.[3][4]

During the 1999 Kwara State gubernatorial election, Lawal was elected governor under the umbrella of the All Peoples Party (APP).[5] He was said to be a protégé of Senator Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki. Saraki later moved to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[6]

Lawal initiated a N250 million libel action against a paper The People's Advocate based in Ilorin, published by Abdulkareem Adisa but later withdrew the suit after the two men were reconciled.[7]

In the 2003 Kwara State gubernatorial election, he ran for re-election but lost as his previous supporter Abubakar Saraki backed his son Bukola Saraki as candidate for governor of Kwara state and his daughter Gbemisola R. Saraki as senator for Kwara State Central in which they were both elected.[8]

In October 2006, it was reported that Nuhu Ribadu, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was investigating Lawal for alleged diversion of funds.[9]

Lawal died in a London hospital after a brief illness in November 2006.[10][11]

  1. ^ Olugbemi Fatula (2002). UNIFECS (Obafemi Awolowo University) Encyclopaedia of 2,000 Foremost Nigerians: Featuring 100 outstanding Nigerians of the African International Biographical Order (AIBO) Volume 2 of 2000 foremost Nigerians. Afribic. ISBN 9789783492226.
  2. ^ "All Governors of Ogun State". Glimpse Nigeria. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Nigeria States". World Statesmen. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Lawal, Ex-Kwara Gov. Dies". Sahara Reporters. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Remembering Governor Muhammed Lawal". Vanguard. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ^ Shittu, Hammed (5 May 2009). "Kwara - Why Saraki Holds the Aces". This Day. Retrieved 17 January 2010 – via allAfrica.
  7. ^ "Media Rights Monitor November 2000. Vol 5 No. 11" (PDF). Media Rights Agenda. Retrieved 13 January 2010. [permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ Ojiabor, Favour (31 March 2003). "A Dynasty in Trouble". Newswatch. Archived from the original on 6 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  9. ^ Mabayoje, Alex (2 October 2006). "Closing In On Corrupt Governors". Newswatch. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  10. ^ "Lawal: The Final Berth..." This Day. 19 November 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "Late Admiral Mohammed Alabi Lawal's Posthumous Award; An Award Well Deserved". The Informant247S. 24 April 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2022.