Joseph Dechi Gomwalk

Joseph Dechi Gomwalk was the first Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State (28 May 1967 – 29 July 1975) under General Yakubu Gowon, whose in-law he was. In August 1974, civil-society activist Aper Aku swore an affidavit alleging official corruption against Gomwalk — the second major affidavit scandal of that year (the first being Godwin Daboh-Adzuana's affidavit against Federal Commissioner Joseph Tarka). The scandal contributed to the unravelling of Gowon's regime. Gomwalk denied the charges and remained in office with Gowon's protection; CJN Taslim Elias then issued a press release restricting corruption affidavits in courts. No corruption trial ever took place — Gomwalk was executed by firing squad on 15 May 1976 for alleged involvement in the Dimka coup attempt against the new Murtala Mohammed regime, a conviction historians continue to view as politically driven. Recommend `contextual` archive entry — historically important as one of the earliest documented affidavit-corruption scandals against a Nigerian state governor, but no adjudicated corruption finding.