COMING UP: Against the backdrop of many inaccurate renditio…

1a. General Domkat Bali commenced his cadet preparatory training as a member of the Course 3 cohort of the Nigerian Military Training College, Kaduna, in April 1961(this is contrary to a report by a foreign medium which suggested that he began training at Sandhurst in April 1961)

1b. Some of his course mates in the NMTC Course 3 cohort were Lt Gen MI Wushishi, Maj Gen Geoffrey Ejiga, Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo, Brigadier Abbas Wali, Colonel ADS Wya et al. Most of Bali's mates trained at MONS. Only four made the cut for Sandhurst (Bali, Wya and two others)

1c. Bali reported for training at Sandhurst in Q1 1962 and was commissioned in December 1963. He and his mate, Abdul Wya, found themselves in the artillery corps.

2. Of the officers who were commissioned into the army between 1959 and 1966, Bali epitomised the finest pedigree for he not only attended Sandhurst but also the prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies - a feat which only a few such as Gens Bissala + Akinrinade managed

3. Captain Bali was 2-i-c of the Field Battery at Abeokuta on the night of the 28 July 1966 mutiny. He went to town for a drink alongside his immediate senior at Sandhurst, Captain Moh'd Remawa who was 2-i-c of the Reece Squadron.

4. Bali fought in the civil war and sustained an injury which resulted in the pronounced limp which he was known for whilst he was a public figure in the 1980s

5. Following the 1976 execution of his NMTC + Sandhurst peer, Colonel ADS Wya, Bali emerged as commander of the artillery corps. In Q2 1976, promotions which had retroactive effect saw Bali emerge as a brigadier w.e.f 1 November 1975.

In 1978, Brigadier Bali was appointed GOC of the 1 Infantry Division, additionally gaining membership of the hallowed Supreme Military Council. He gained promotion to the rank of major general in 1979

6a. Following the ouster of the civilian-led government on 31 Dec 1983, Bali emerged as defence minister and a member of the Supreme Military Council. He was far and away the most senior officer at the time, having attained the rank of major general four years earlier than Buhari

6b. Some local reports have posited that Bali served as Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff under the 1984-85 regime. This is absolutely wrong. He was the defence minister ONLY and no. 3 man in that FMG

7. On 26 August 1985,Bali paid Sallah homage to Gen Buhari, the head of state, and asked if Buhari was aware that a coup against his govt would be mounted that night. Buhari said "yes", adding that measures were being taken to thwart same. Buhari's FMG was overthrown regardless

8. In the new Babangida-led regime, Bali was formally redesignated as defence minister and chairman, joint chiefs of staff. He remained no.3 man in the hierarchy and was a member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council, seating to the immediate left of Babangida at council meetings

9. On 29 Dec 1989, Bali, who attained the rank of Lt Gen on 1 Oct 1987 after 8.5 years as a major general, was moved from the defence portfolio to internal affairs. It meant that he was to replace Colonel John Shagaya who was proceeding on course to the RCDS in the UK in Q1 1990

10. Bali considered this to be a demotion and honourably took the option of early retirement. He left the service, a well-respected man, in Jan 1990. His retirement was one of the grievances cited by the coupmakers of 22 April 1990

11. In a move which was unprecedented in the military history of Nigeria, Lt Gen Bali was promoted in retirement to the rank of a four-star general in September 1990, his promotion taking retroactive effect from January 1990 when he retired from the services of the Nigerian Army

12a. In the 1980s, the dramatic phrase "Langtang Mafia" crept into Nigeria's lexicon. It referred to acrop of powerful, high-profile officers from Langtang, serving and retired

12b. Of the lot, General DY Bali was seniormost - ahead of Gen (rtd) Joe Garba, Gen Jeremiah Useni, Gen Joshua Dogonyaro, Air Commodore Bernard Banfa and Colonel John Shagaya, to name the big hitters among the crop

12c. In his post-retirement life, Bali emerged as the Ponzhi Tarok, paramount ruler of that intensely militaristic ethnic group

May God grant his soul eternal rest, Amen.