The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Lagos chapter has urged the Lagos State Government to challenge the acquittal of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in the conspiracy and murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Sani Abacha and his co-accused, Lateef Shofolahan, an aide to the late Kudirat, were discharged and acquitted last Friday by the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos.
However, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, on Monday, the ACN picked holes in the appellate court’s judgment saying it was yet another indictment on the capacity of the nation’s judiciary to dispense justice.
“Al-Mustapha’s acquittal is a shame and follows a pattern that has never punished high networth offenders for crimes they committed against the state or fellows Nigerians,” the statement read.
The party said it was yet to recover from the shock of Al- Mustapha’s acquittal given all evidence that had so far been tendered against him and Shofolahan.
It said, “Weighty evidence had been proferred against Al-Mustapha, including confessions of Sergeant Rogers, Maj. Muhammed Abdul, (the men that allegedly pulled the trigger that killed Mrs. Abiola) and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan.
“Dismissing the case for lack of evidence seems to be a way of ensuring that Al-Mustapha escapes justice for the acts of crime and not in any way helping the soiled image of the Nigerian judiciary.”
The party noted that Al-Mustapha’s acquittal came a few days after a popular Internet news site revealed an extensive plot to free him and ensure that he escaped punishment for Kudirat’s death.
ACN said, “We believe that the judiciary, by this questionable verdict, is hoping to consign the killing of Kudirat Abiola to the long list of unsolved assassination cases that haunt the country today.
“While we align ourselves with the opinions of millions of Nigerians, who have called on the Lagos State Government to appeal the latest verdict and diligently pursue the course of justice for the slain Kudirat Abiola, we state that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder if Nigerians could be killed at will and their killing shoved under the carpet.”
Its rather very unfortunate that this comment is coming from Action Congress of Nigeria. Very disappointing that Action Congress did not have problems with the long delayed trial, despite claiming there is enough evidence against Hamza Almustapha. Would they have said such if he were a Yoruba man? The same oral evidence from the same so called witnesses that were thrown out and used to set others free is still the one you want to use? How much were you all paid? Well its a pity that in Yoruba land, the man’s position is relegated to the ground. Why are we not talking about who killed Abiola, the man that you all wanted to be listed among the former president of Nigeria and all the June 12 stuffs. You all should be ashamed of yourselves and hide your faces from shame. Respect the Rule of Law! The Court of Appeal is a respectable Court, and if you don’t believe in their judgement then don’t go to them. He is out and you better get it straight! this is an indication. That Action Congress, APC or whatever are going to lose to PDP this coming Election most especially in Lagos