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The Lagos High
Court on
Thursday
admitted in
evidence a
statement made
in 1999 by
former Chief
Security
Officer, Major
Hamza
Al-Mustapha.
The statement
was made before
the Special
Investigation
Panel (SIP)
which
investigated the
1996 murder of
Kudirat Abiola,
and other
atrocities
allegedly
committed under
the regime of
late Gen Sani
Abacha.
Major
Al-Mustapha and
Lateef
Shofolahan are
standing trial
on charges of
conspiracy and
murder of
Kudirat, wife of
the acclaimed
winner of
Nigeria’s June
12, 1993
presidential
elections, MKO
Abiola.
While answering
questions from
prosecuting
counsel, Lawal
Pedro [SAN]
under cross
examination,
Major
Al-Mustapha
denied that the
statement was
his.
He had initially
claimed that he
made the
statement under
severe physical
and
psychological
torture from the
sip.
The torture, the
former CSO said
was also
extended to his
immediate
family, his
brother and
father who he
saw only twice
in thirteen
years and who
have since
passed on.
In the statement
which was read
to the court,
Major
Al-Mustapha
denied ordering
Sergeant Rogers
to kill Mrs
Kudirat Abiola.
The former CSO
however said
that though the
statement is non
confessional, it
is in alignment
with the
testimony of the
prosecution
witnesses who
were recruited
after being
induced to
testify against
him.
The court
adjourned
proceedings
following an
objection by the
defence team to
the tendering by
the prosecution
of the Supreme
Court judgment
which acquitted
son of the late
dictator,
Mohammed Abacha
who was
initially
charged for the
murder of late
Kudirat Abiola.
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