Babatunde Elegbede

Military career

As a Navy Captain, Elegbede was appointed Military Governor of Cross River State between 28 July 1978 and 30 September 1979, when he handed over power to the elected civilian governor Clement Isong at the start of the Nigerian Second Republic. During his tenure, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria was established at Oron (now in Akwa Ibom State).

During the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari that followed the Second Republic after a 31 December 1983 coup, Elegbede was Chairman of the Kaduna Zone military tribunal, which was set up to try public officers from the previous civilian regime who had been accused of embezzling public funds. He was appointed director of the Defence Intelligence Agency, and was later head of administration in Defence Headquarters under General Ibrahim Babangida.

In September 1985, Commodore Elegbede was Flag Officer Commanding, Sea Training Command. He was a member of Babangida's Armed Forces Ruling Council from 1983 to 1993.

Death

Elegbede was assassinated by gunmen on 19 June 1994 along the Gbagada/Owonshoki expressway in Lagos, hit by more than 70 automatic rifle bullets in the presence of his wife. In July 2001, three of the seven suspected robbers were formally charged.

However, as of September 2009, nobody had been convicted of the murder.