Supreme Court don finally dismiss di murder case against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over di killing of Kudirat Abiola.
Supreme Court don finally dismiss di murder case against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over di killing of Kudirat Abiola.
Di apex court say Lagos State Government abandon di case, after dem fail to re-open am since dem get permission to appeal way back for 2014.
Delivering di unanimous judgment, Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji talk say Lagos State no file any notice of appeal or court papers within di 30 days wey Supreme Court grant dem.
Lawyer to Al-Mustapha, Joseph Daudu (SAN), tell di court say more than nine years pass without Lagos State taking any step, argue say di case suppose strike out because government no pursue am seriously.
Court confirm say Lagos State receive hearing notices well-well but still no show face and no lawyer represent dem since 2020.
Justice Aba-Aji describe di delay as unacceptable, talk say “nine years too much,” and conclude say di state don clearly lose interest in di matter.
Because of dat, Supreme Court dismiss di appeal, plus another related suit wey Lagos State governor file.
Kudirat Abiola, wife of late MKO Abiola, wey win di cancelled June 12, 1993 election, was assassinated for Lagos on June 4, 1996, during di political crisis wey follow di annulment.
Back for January 2012, Lagos High Court sentence Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha and Lateef Shofolahan to death. But Court of Appeal overturn di judgment for July 2013, free dem because evidence no strong.
With dis latest ruling, Supreme Court don close di case once and for all.
