Kudirat Abiola’s daughter, Hafsat disagrees with verdict… may sue Al-Mustapha

by Rachel Ogbu

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (arrowed) flanked by supporters, after he regained his freedom at the Appeal Court, in Lagos... on Friday. Right is the Late Kudirat Abiola. (Photo:Punch)
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (arrowed) flanked by supporters, after he regained his freedom at the Appeal Court, in Lagos… on Friday. Right is the Late Kudirat Abiola. (Photo:Punch)

There are indications that Kudirat Abiola’s daughter, Hafsat Abiola-Costello is prepared to institute a civil legal action against Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former chief security officer to the late head of state who was set released by the Court of Appeal over the assassination of her mother.

Hafsat who is the founder of the non-governmental organisation, Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) stressed that it “vehemently disagrees” with the court’s verdict.

Al-Mustapha had been sentenced to death on January 30, 2012, by a Lagos High Court over the murder of Kudirat but was discharged and acquitted by the Appeal Court on Friday.

KIND has expressed “shock and disappointment” at the judgment.

In a statement on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital KIND’s Executive Director, Amy Oyekunle, said that it would obtain a copy of the judgment and commission a team of legal experts to study its details with a view to “determining whether a civil action is advisable at this point.”

The Punch reports:

The statement entitled “Is this the face of justice in Nigeria?,” read, “While KIND will obtain this judgment and commission a team of legal experts to study it in detail, with a view to determining whether a civil action is advisable at this point, KIND respectfully acknowledges but vehemently disagrees with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“KIND hereby expresses shock and disappointment at the judgment, 2013, which overturned the judgment of the High Court, which had found Al-Mustapha, one time Chief Security Officer to Gen. Sani Abacha, and Lateef Shofolahan guilty of the June 4, 1996 murder of Kudirat in Lagos, during the reign of terror of Abacha.”

KIND stated that the gruesome murder of Kudirat in 1996 and the supreme sacrifice made by many other Nigerians, including Chief MKO Abiola and Alfred Rewane, to restore democracy to Nigeria.

“The judgment of Justice Amina Augie (presiding justice of the Court of Appeal’s Panel), Justice Rita Pemu, and Justice Fatima Akinbami, reversing the judgment of Justice Mojisola Dada, has now discarded that court’s findings and rejected the court’s reasoning,” it added.

The group said it was neither seeking vengeance nor retribution but insisted that the killers of Kudirat must be found.

 

Comments (3)

  1. IT IS A PLAN WORK BUT GOD IS THERE TO JUDGE . NEXT TWO YEARS NOW , YOU WILL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPY .THE SAME AL- MUSTAPHA WILL BE GIVEN POLITICAL APPOINTMENT.

  2. I will advice u to leave everything to God.

  3. I no is painful to loss but parent but they should forgive who ever that do the killing bcs two wrong they say it doesn’t make a wright,beside abacha and abiola were both late now.

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