Al-Mustapha Drags Promi­nent Islamic Preacher To Court For Defamation

Former Chief Se­curity Officer (CSO) to the Late Head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, Ma­jor Hamza Al-Mustapha, has dragged a promi­nent Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil, before the Upper Shariah Court, Daura Road, Ka­duna for alleged defama­tion of character.

When the case came up for mention on Tuesday, there was a tight security in the court premises as sol­diers, police and the Civil Defence Corps sealed off Daura Road, causing fear and panic among residents of the area.

However, the matter was not heard due to the absence of the Judge, Mallam Musta­pha Umar.

Al-Mustapha, in a crimi­nal direct complain summon deposed before the court by his counsel, Sadau Garba, said he sued the Islamic cler­ic for defamation and mis­chievous propaganda against his person.

According to the sum­mon, Sheikh Khalil had al­legedly preached a sermon at the Sani Zangon Daura Jummu’at Mosque on a Fri­day in December 2013, al­leging that Al-Mustapha was contracted by the govern­ment to train snipers to kill some 1, 000 people in the country to promote a politi­cal ambition.

“The defamatory” words, according to the summon, “are contained in both CD and DVD plates recorded with the knowledge and con­sent of the accused person and were being sold to mem­bers of the public both within and outside Nigeria”  con­trary to the provision of Sec­tion 137 (1) Shariah Penal Code 2002,  Kaduna state.

The summon stated that the Islamic cleric was al­leged to have stated thus while preaching: “The evil that men do lives after them. Information has reached me (that) you are in charge of training some young snipers and killers to promote your political ambition.

“These boys are being trained to kill some 1, 000 people in this country per­ceived to be stumbling block on your part to achieving your political ambition. That is what (Obasanjo) said in his letter. If it is Sanusi that said this, they will accuse him of abusing some people.

“This is what Obasanjo told Jonathan in his letter. About two to three Fridays ago, in this place, I told you about the existence of these sniper boys… The person that was given this, unfortunately, is a Muslim brother. He has been given the contract of training and mobilising them on how to use these boys in wanton killings in order to win election at all cost.

“Let’s call a spade a spade, the person that was given this contract is Al-Mustapha… I swear with the name of God where he first started sitting with these boys, the venue and the time he sat, I swear with the name of God I have all the details….

In an interview shortly af­ter the case was adjourned to May 22, 2014, Al-Mustapha said he approached the court to seek for justice against dangerous propaganda against his person.

“The issues in the case are numerous, I don’t want to delve into them,  I want the court to look at it speedily and bring out the contents so that justice would be done at the shortest time possible in the interest of peace, security harmony and in the interest of religion upon which the person we have brought be­fore the court has utilised. I am a Muslim, he is a Mus­lim,” he said.

Asked why he didn’t sue former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also made similar allegations in a letter to President Goodluck Jona­than, Al-Mustapha explained that he did not take legal action against Obasanjo be­cause he (Obasanjo) did not mention his (Al-Mustapha) name in the allegation in the letter to the President.

Also reacting in an inter­view at the court premises, the accused person, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil, said: “I am in court because Major Al-Mustapha has sued me in re­spect of my Jumu’at sermon. He is alleging defamation of character. I believe that this is a Shariah Court and Shariah Court is the best for the Mus­lims. All I know is that Allah is in control and what comes out of this case, I know it is a destiny from Allah.”