African President Who Was Arrested And Sentenced After Attending Oginga Odinga's Funeral

The African leader who was arrested and sentenced to imprisonment after attending Jaramogi Oginga Odinga's funeral in 1994 was former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

Obasanjo, who was a retired general and former head of state at the time he would later become president again was invited by Raila Odinga for the final funeral rites for his father.

Upon his return to Nigeria, he was arrested, interrogated, and imprisoned by the regime of then-President Sani Abacha. 

Obasanjo's attendance at the high-profile funeral, which was a major political event for the Kenyan opposition, was cited as one of the reasons for his arrest on charges of involvement in an alleged coup plot. 

Olusegun Obasanjo's legacy is complex, marked by his pioneering role in Nigeria's return to democracy first military leader to hand over power in 1979, and later as elected President 1999-2007, significant economic reforms telecom liberalization, privatization, efforts to boost African unity (NEPAD), and major infrastructure/social programs Universal Primary Education, airports.

However, his tenure also faced criticism for corruption allegations, human rights concerns, and controversies like the failed third-term bid, though he ultimately respected democratic outcomes, solidifying his pro-democracy image. 

He kick-started his military career by enlisting in the Nigerian Army in March 1958, after working briefly as a teacher following the end of his schooling at BBHS. 

His first formal training was at the Regular Officers’ Special Training School, Teshi, Ghana and later at Mons Officers’ Cadet School, Aldershot, England 1958-59.

He further trained at the Royal College of Military Engineering, Chatham, England; School of Survey, Newbury, England; Indian Defence College, Indian Army School of Engineering, Poona; and Royal Defence Studies, London, among other military institutions.

In the 1999 elections he decided to run for the presidency as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. President Obasanjo won the elections and was later re-elected in 2003.

Within the period of his presidency, he played an instrumental role in bringing democracy back to the country.

While leading a public campaign against corruption and implementing economic reforms in his country, he has been widely seen abroad as an African statesman championing debt relief and democratic institutions.