Al-Mustapha got what he deserves, Abiola

Amidst the mixed reactions following the death sentence on Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Sani Abacha, a former personal assistant to Moshood Abiola, Olu Akerele, says Mr. Al-Mustapha is only getting what he deserves.

A Lagos High Court on Monday found the former CSO guilty of the 1996 murder of Mr. Abiola’s wife, Kudirat. Mr. Akerele, once served as a personal assistant to Moshood Abiola, whose wife, the court says, Mr. Al-Mustapha murdered.

“Al-Mustapha is the devil-incarnate, not worthy to live among human beings. He was merely granted what he deserved in the nation’s quest of serving criminal justice,” Mr. Akerele said in a press statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Mr. Akerele also dismissed arguments condemning the Monday Lagos High Court ruling, adding that such people “do not know one bit about the former security chief who took advantage of his post to visit years of terror and wickedness on his fellow countrymen.”

Mr. Abiola’s former aide recounted his 18-month stint as a prisoner in the Abacha era.

“This man was not satisfied with incarcerating Abiola. He ordered my arrest, that of my junior brother then in the University of Abuja, who was abducted and locked up for 10 months, that of my colleague and friend then at Concord newspapers, Mallam Adamu Mohammed, for eight months and my three drivers who got thrown into the gulac for three months each.”

Mr. Akerele believes that Mr. Al-Mistapha ordered the arrests of persons linked directly or indirectly to Mr. Abiola to punish the rich politician, who is believed to have won the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential elections. Mr. Abiola was arrested in 1994 as he made efforts to claim his mandate.

The former aide to the late politician, who died in detention in 1998, said Mr. Al-Mustapha ordered the execution of Mr. Abiola’s wife in this same vein and as a show of power.

“But he forgot that absolute power belongs to God Almighty who is the giver and taker of life. Kudirat Abiola’s spirit will continue to haunt him and his co-conspirators until he faces the gallows when it will rest in peace,” Mr. Akerele said.

He commended the judiciary for sentencing Al-Mustapha to death by hanging.  Mr. Akerele said the judgment is “a clear testimony that the wheel of justice may be slow but would surely catch up with culprits.”