Yoruba leaders ‘bribed’ to keep mum about Abiola’s killers — Al-Mustapha

Hamza Al-Mustapha, the chief security officer to former military dictator, Sani Abacha, has accused Yoruba leaders of receiving bribes to conceal the identities of those who killed former president-elect, Moshood Abiola.

Mr. Al-Mustapha made the claim when he spoke to journalists in Kaduna, on Monday, after he convening a peace meeting between the South east and Arewa youth at the Arewa House.

He said Yoruba leaders collected bribes, and agreed never to expose Mr. Abiola’s killers.

He did not give names. He also claimed to have a video recording showing the bribes were paid in dollars.

He said he had deposited the video at a Lagos High Court presided by Justice Mojisola Dada.

“A day after Abiola died, a particular Yoruba Chief (Ayo Opadokun) was invited to the Presidency, and he came to the villa alongside his friends,” Mr. Al-Mustapha said.

“He came with anger into the villa. Those who killed Abiola invited him to the villa. At that material time, they came to fight the government, they wanted to set the country ablaze, considering their disposition. They went into the meeting furious but came out laughing and yelling as if there was no tension in the country.

“A day after Abiola’s death if you remember, the country was on the verge of collapse. But seeing what was going on in the Villa made me to suspect them.

“I had not handed over the villa to Abdulsalami Abubakar government then, so I decided to video tape what they were doing and I have tendered the tape before a court of law, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court.

“In that tape, money exchanged hands and they traded with Abiola and that is my anger. The tape is in that court, anybody that wants to watch it can get it and watch, it is now a public document. I didn’t want to talk about it before, but money was brought from the Central Bank in my presence and it was shared.

“So, if I talk about Abiola’s well being and safety, and that of his family, I am telling Nigerians what really happened. Why should a person from the same Southwest, who is supposed to protect Abiola’s interest, now be seen to be angry with me? He should be happy with me for saying the fact, so that it will not happen again in Nigeria.

“In Yoruba land where culture is the watch word, late MKO Abiola was the last Aare Ona Kakanfo and for a Yoruba man going against Aare Ona Kakanfo, what is that thing,” he said.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr. Opadokun, a former general secretary of pro-democracy group, NADECO, said the former CSO is a “pathological liar,” he said.

The former NADECO chieftain did not only deny the allegation but gave reason why Mr. Al-Mustapha should not be the person that could claim to have such knowledge of what actually happened hours after MKO’s death.

“He makes statements he cannot defend, he is seeking attention,” he said.

“He should be ignored. When his boss died, as a result of his attitude, he was transferred from Abuja to Enugu, what does he know? He thrives on lies because he wants attention. He should be ignored. He once said that he is in possession of Abiola’s last moments, let him produce the video. He is a liar and should be ignored.”