LAGOS, June 9: Nigerian military ruler General Sani Abacha died suddenly on Monday. He has been replaced by Nigerian armed forces chief, General Abdulsalam Abubakar who was sworn in as the new head of state on Tuesday.Abubakar, named Nigeria's new ruler by the military junta, the Provisional Ruling Council, was sworn in by Supreme Court President Judge Mohammadu Lawal Uweis. He took the oath of office on the Koran, the Muslim holy book and announced that he would shortly address the nation.
Abubakar announced, Abacha, 54, would be buried at his home city of Kano on Monday according to Muslim rites and a week of national mourning from Tuesday in honour of Abacha was announced on Monday.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
