The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the wife of late businessman and politician, Chief MKO Abiola. The court’s decision was made due to the Lagos State government’s failure to file a notice of appeal since 2014, when it was granted permission to re-open the case.
Alhaja Kudirat Abiola was murdered in Lagos in 1996, during the nationwide crisis that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, which her husband was presumed to have won. The Lagos State government had charged Al-Mustapha with conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. In 2012, a Lagos High Court sentenced Al-Mustapha to death by hanging, but the Court of Appeal later discharged and acquitted him in 2013, citing insufficient evidence.
The Lagos State government had sought to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision, but failed to file a notice of appeal within the stipulated timeframe. On Thursday, a 5-man panel of Justices at the Supreme Court, led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, dismissed the case due to the state government’s inaction. The court noted that nine years was sufficient time for the appellant to have filed a notice of appeal and that the lack of legal representation and updates on the case was unacceptable.
The Supreme Court’s decision brings an end to the trial of Al-Mustapha, who had been accused of playing a role in Alhaja Kudirat Abiola’s murder. The case had been ongoing for over two decades, with various twists and turns. The dismissal of the case highlights the importance of timely and diligent prosecution in ensuring that justice is served.
The significance of this case lies in its connection to Nigeria’s turbulent past and the struggle for democracy. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election and the subsequent events, including Alhaja Kudirat Abiola’s murder, remain a dark period in the country’s history. The Supreme Court’s decision may bring closure to the case, but it also underscores the need for accountability and justice in addressing past human rights abuses.
