Ishaya Bamaiyi

General Bamaiyi prior to becoming the Chief of Army Staff held the following posts:

• Adjutant. 182 Infantry Battalion. 1968-70
• Commanding Officer 70 Infantry Battalion, 1972–77
• Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Jaji, 1982–84
• Commander. 9 Mechanised Brigade, 1986–90
• Commander, Brigade of Guards, 1990–92
• Director Training, Army Headquarters, Department of Operations, 1992–93
• Commander. Lagos Garrison Command. 1993-96

General Bamaiyi was appointed Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in March 1996 by General Sanni Abacha.^[2] He served as COAS for 3 years until his retirement in May 1999.

On 10 December 1999 Gen. Bamaiya was charged with the attempted Murder of Guardian Newspaper Publisher Alex Ibru on 2 February 1996 alongside the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gen Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, and others by the Lagos state government. Bamaiyi who served under the military administration of late General Sani Abacha was arraigned by the Lagos state government of the attempted murder of publisher of the Guardian newspaper, Mr. Alex Ibru, and an eminent Delta state indigene, Mr. Isaac Porbeni.^[3] He was discharged and acquitted on 2 April 2008 of any wrongdoing in the saga after nine years in detention.^[4]

Ishaya and his older brother, Musa Bamaiyi reportedly feuded for years leading to Musa seeking redress from the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission (HRVIC) Panel, headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa.^[5]