Published:
Abuja-based media consultant and former aide to MKO Abiola who won the annulled June 12, 1992 presidential election, Olu Akerele, has described as preposterous the Appeal Court jugdment freeing Col Hamza al-Mustapha for the assassination on June 4, 1994 of Mrs Kudirat Abiola.
Mr. Akerele accused officialdom of deliberately muddling up the evidence available to the prosecution in order to set the suspects free.
He said, “Enemies of Chief Abiola and the nation’s progress may be rejoicing now that the suspects have taken advantage of a lacuna in the justice system to be set free, but they shall surely stand before the Lord in final judgment.”
He argued that “the case was dragged for 14 years by al-Mustapha’s lawyers in a bid to frustrate the entire justice system to a point where even the public lost interest in the trial to allow for muddle ups.”
Mr. Akerele said it was apparent at the commencement of trial that the state had an iron-cast case, but that evidence and witnesses were tampered with in the course of trial which was full motions and counter motions, cross-appeals, inordinate adjournments, threats and arm twists.
He handed over the suspects and all those rejoicing over the freeing of al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan to divine judgment, noting: “No one can mess up evidence and witnesses in Supreme judgment.”
He urged the Abiola family and all lovers of the growth of the country to be consoled in the fact that Abiola’s death was not in vain as democracy was surely coming to fruition in Nigeria.
He said al-Mustapha’s freedom should not be viewed by thousands of those who lost their loved ones and those who suffered deprivations in the hands of the chief security officer to the maximum dictator, Gen Sani Abacha, as a dent on their psyche. He assured them that the freed former CSO will find justice at the appropriate time.
Mr. Akerele suffered 18 months of incaceration in Abacha’s gulac as personal aide to Mr. Abiola.
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