General Oladipo Diya (rtd), a former army chief has died, aged 78.

Oyesinmilola Diya, in a statement signed on behalf of the family, said the late general died in the early hours of Sunday.

Diya served as the chief of general staff to former head of state Sani Abacha between 1994 and 1997.

He was arrested and sentenced to death for alleged treason in 1997 but regained freedom after Abacha died in 1998.