Former Head of the Interim National Government (INC), Chief Ernest Shonekan, is dead.

He died in Lagos at 85, sources told ANN.

Shonekan was chairman of the INC, which succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida.

He ruled from August 26 to November 17, 1993 until he was overthrown in a palace coup led by late General Sani Abacha who was Secretary of Defence.

Here are 10 facts about the late Shonekan

1. Chief Ernest Shonekan GCFR was born on May 9, 1936.

2. He was titled Abese of Egbaland in 1981 (in addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles).

3. He had his secondary education at CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College.

4. He received a law degree from the University of London and was called to the bar. He later attended Harvard Business School.

5. He was a lawyer and statesman who served as the interim Head of States from 26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993.

6. Shonekan was chairman of the INC, which succeeded the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida.

7. Prior to his political career, Shonekan was the chairman and chief executive of the United African Company of Nigeria (successor of The Niger Company), a vast Nigerian conglomerate, which at the time was the largest African-controlled company in Sub-Saharan Africa.

8. In November 1993, three months into his administration, Shonekan was overthrown in a palace coup by Abacha.

9. In 1994, he founded the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, an advocacy group and think-tank for private sector-led development of the Nigerian economy.

10. He was the third oldest surviving Head of States by age after Queen Elizabeth II and Gen Yakubu Gowon(Rtd).