Mix Reaction Trails Al Mustapha's Release

The Odua People’s Congress (OPC) and the Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere have condemned the Court of Appeal Judgement that set free the former Chief Security Officer to Late Gen Sani Abacha,Major Hamza Mustapha  calling the verdict a set back to the rule of law and justice.

There was, however, spontaneous jubilation in Kano on Friday as the news of al-Mustapha’s acquittal filtered in, while anxious family members and friends of the former CSO besieged the gates of the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prisons, Apapa, Lagos, in anticipation of his release.

The court also acquitted and discharged Shofolahan for the similar reasons.

As soon as the news of the acquittal filtered in, a large crowd trooped out in Kano in jubilation, while special prayers were offered in mosques and other places to express gratitude to Allah for the historic event.

It was also gathered that a special plan is ongoing to mobilize the teeming masses to welcome al-Mustapha back to the city of Kano.

The state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, however, said al-Mustapha’s release put a question mark on the dispensation of justice in Nigeria. 

Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, noted that his release after so many years in incarceration was a pointer to the fact that Allah has a definite time for whatever problem human beings pass through.

“There is time for everything. This is the time Allah has destined that Major al-Mustapha would regain his freedom,” he said, adding that it was gratifying that some judges eventually got the courage to finish the case, many having withdrawn from the case.

“It was so funny that those people who charged him for the offence did not believe that Major (he) could get justice soon, especially being a case involving a Yoruba man, being tried in Lagos,” he enthused.

The chairman for the Movement of Justice and Defence of Democracy in Nigeria, Captain Mohammed Garba (rtd), also hailed the judgment, but warned that it was not “yet Uhuru” as the Lagos State government may appeal the judgment.

In his own reaction, Colonel Yakubu Bako , former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, simply said “justice has been done; we thank Allah for the pronouncement that set him free at last.”

Also, a chieftain of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Alhaji Haruna Danzago, said that with the release of Major al-Mustapha, President Goodluck Jonathan had scored another point in Nigeria, saying that this was what former president Olusegun Obasanjo and former military head of state, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar, could not do.

However, not all were pleased with the development. The National Coordinator of the Yoruba socio-cultural organsation , the Oodua  People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adans, condemned the judgement, saying it lacked element of fairness and that it was a bad omen for the development of democracy in Nigeria.

The OPC chieftain said the Friday judgment that acquitted al-Mustapha would encourage present and future governments as well as their agents to perpetrate evil. 

He said: (This judgement gives) “an impression to Nigerians and the whole world that justice in the country has been defeated and therefore needs urgent reform.

“This judgment will in no small measure discourage the will of Nigerians to stand against injustice and oppression in Nigeria.” 

He also said that the judgment would greatly psychologically affect Nigerians in their determination to stand against oppression and other forms of injustice.

The OPC chief said the judgment “has defeated the hope of the people who feel that whatever injustice that befell them can be redressed by the judiciary.”

Lagos lawyer, Ladi Rotimi-Williams (SAN), reacting to the judgement on Friday, also described it as shocking and surprising. He wondered how the judges arrived at the conclusion when, according to him, there were sufficient evidence linking al-Mustapha to the murder case.

“I don’t know how they arrived at their conclusion. The law is an ass, I must say. It is surprising; very surprising and shocking. I believe the state will appeal that judgement. The facts are there,” he said.

Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, through its spokesman, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the judgement was a direct license to murderers to shed innocent blood, knowing that they will escape the long arm of the law.

He added that the killers of Kudirat Abiola would know no peace because her spirit would continue to torment them for the rest of their lives.

In his reaction, chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, said the judgement was a temporary relief for al-Mustapha because the Lagos State government would proceed to the Supreme Court.

Mr Fred Agbaje, a human rights activist, said the decision of the appellate court did not come to him as a surprise, saying “the level of evidence in that case left too many loopholes for the defence counsel to take advantage of; and that is exactly what they have done.”

According to him, the judgment has shown that there is no reasonable ground to detain al-Mustapha and Shofolahan for almost 15 years.

“It is good for the development of the rule of law in this country. The innocent shall not be unjustly punished. I hope the matter will now rest, except the Lagos State government wants to pursue an appeal.

“Lagos State must  not only be ready to pay damages for unlawfully and unconstitutionally detaining and prosecuting an innocent citizen for 15 years, but must be ready as well to offer apology to al-Mustapha and co,” Agbaje said.