The Nigerian Army has disclosed that the former chief security officer (CSO) to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, is still in the service of the armed forces.
The army authorities made this known through the chief of staff in the Directorate of Army Public Relations, Col. John Agim, during a press briefing by the Joint Security Services Public Information Committee at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Al-Mustapha, along with others, was accused of the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996. While a Lagos high court sentenced him and his co-accused to death on January 30, 2012, the Court of Appeal in Lagos on Friday upturned the death sentence. The ex-CSO regained his freedom after 15 years of incarceration. He was given a tumultuous welcome in Kano on Sunday.
Responding to a question on the fate of Al-Mustapha during the interactive session with journalists, Agim, who represented the army director of information, Brigadier-General Attahiru Ibrahim, said: “With regards to al-Mustapha’s release, well, I want to confirm that he is still in the Army.”
He added that Al-Mustapha’s case will be handled by the Army authorities “administratively” in line with the harmonised terms and conditions of military service.
Others in attendance at the briefing were the director of defence information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, spokespersons of the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, Police, State Security Service, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas, Navy Commodore Kabir Aliyu, CSP Frank Mba and Marilyn Ogar respectively.
Appeal Court judges’ verdict on ex-CSO in order - Tsav
A former commissioner of police, Lagos State command, Alhaji AbubakarTsav, said yesterday that the Appeal Court judges that delivered judgement that led to the release of al-Muspapha were competent.
Tsav, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, noted that the release of the CSO after 15 years of experience in prison custody has reaffirmed the supremacy of God over all things in the country.
According to him, the judgement by the judges is a clear indication of courage and frankness that would reactivate the hope of the common man and that those serving jail terms without anyone to stand in for them would also be reassured that justice delayed is not denied.
“Al-Mustapha’s release from custody reaffirms the supremacy of God over all things. I commend the Appeal Court judges for their courage, frankness and thoroughness in their judgment. No grave is deep enough to bury the truth,” Tsav said.
He added: “Now I am happy that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha is at last discharged and acquitted. He will now know who his true friends are and what life is all about because, in times of adversity, they push them through the window.”
DHQ to activists: Focus on terrorists, not law enforcers
Meanwhile, the Joint Security Services Public Information Committee has challenged the human rights groups who have been accusing the troops deployed to emergency states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of human rights violation to also focus their attention on the nefarious activities of the terrorists rather than seek evidence to indict the forces for non-existent human rights abuses. The committee, which comprises all the image makers of the security services, said that the forces involved in the counter-insurgency operations are quite familiar with the rules of engagement and will not unnecessarily violate human rights in their domains of operation. This was disclosed by the director of defence information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, during a press briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Olukolade, who delivered the committee’s message, said: “Constant monitoring is ongoing to ensure there is no violation and, where there is, to instantly investigate and punish perpetrators.”
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