Prince Osiyemi narrates how Mike Adenuga escaped Gideon Orkar coup

By Tosin Brown

Prince Bayo Osiyemi, former Chief Press Secretary to the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has shared the dramatic story of how Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., CEO of Globacom Limited, narrowly escaped the Major Gideon Orkar military coup in 1990. This revelation is part of Osiyemi’s memoir, set to be launched in February 2025.

In the memoir, Osiyemi, a seasoned journalist, recounts how Adenuga’s close ties to the then-military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, made him a target during the coup attempt. Recognizing the danger, Osiyemi quickly devised a plan to ensure Adenuga’s safety.

Osiyemi enlisted the help of his colleague and lifelong friend, Titus Fapohunda, to execute the daring rescue. They used a Volkswagen Beetle, a small and inconspicuous car, to ferry Adenuga from his residence on Oko Awo Street in Victoria Island to a safer location.

In the memoir, Osiyemi writes, “I had experienced Otunba Dr. Michael Adeniyi Isola Adenuga in diverse ways—his uncommon knack for hard work, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and his legendary generosity. But his adaptive power came to the fore during the Major Gideon Orkar abortive coup, which could have aborted the dreams of one of Africa’s wealthiest sons.”

Upon learning of the coup in the early hours, Osiyemi’s instincts told him he needed to act quickly. He contacted Adenuga, urging him to prepare for an immediate exit from the country. Fapohunda, at great personal risk, agreed to accompany Osiyemi on the rescue mission from Ilupeju to Victoria Island.

By the time they arrived, Adenuga, visibly shaken, was ready to leave. They planned to smuggle him across the border to Cotonou, where he could then flee to London. However, their journey took a dangerous turn when they encountered a military roadblock at the Ojo Military Cantonment on Badagry Expressway, with a tank blocking their path.

The situation grew tense, but Osiyemi and Fapohunda, relying on their journalistic instincts, devised a quick plan. They asked Adenuga to hide in a drainage channel, with Osiyemi and Fapohunda standing over him to shield him from view. After a short time, they moved Adenuga to a safer location in Ojo town, where they sought refuge in the home of Chief Richard Ege, a senior party member and colleague from Jakande’s administration.

The three men remained in hiding until the national radio announced that the coup had been foiled. With the immediate danger passed, Adenuga was able to escape to the UK, where he stayed until General Babangida regained control of the government.

Osiyemi concludes the account by noting that Adenuga’s escape was a pivotal moment that could have ended tragically, but thanks to quick thinking and the help of loyal friends, one of Africa’s most successful businessmen was saved from certain death.