BREAKING: Former Nigerian Leader, Ernest Shonekan Dies At 85

Chief Ernest Shonekan, the former head of the Interim National Government that succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida, has died.

Shonekan, 85, who was in charge of the country’s helm of affairs between August 26 and November 17, 1993, died at Evercare hospital, Lekki, Lagos.

Shonekan served as the interim head of a puppet Nigerian government, put in place by the junta of Ibrahim Babangida, a military dictator. Mr Shonekan’s time in office was brief as he was ousted in a coup led by Gen. Sani Abacha.

Mr Shonekan was born and raised in Lagos. He was educated at the CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College, Lagos, and obtained a law degree from the University of London. Mr Shonekan later attended Harvard Business School.

Mr Shonekan joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria in 1964, rising through the ranks in the company to be an assistant legal adviser. In 1994, Mr Shonekan founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

This comes a few weeks after a former Nigerian Senate President in the Second Republic, Joseph Wayas died after a protracted illness in London, the United Kingdom.