We did not meet over Al-Mustapha, northern emirs say

Northern emirs have denied media reports that they met over the conviction of Hamza Al-Mustapha describing such reports as “crude, false, and uncharitable.”

In their first reaction since the reports, the Emir of Kazaure in Jigawa state, Najib Adamu, stated that although the Emirs met, the meeting had nothing to do with the conviction of Mr. Al-Mustapha by a Lagos High court.

“In the first instance, this meeting was called 10 days before the judgment was given. The day the court convicted him was the day of the arrival of the Emirs and Chiefs. How could the issue be on our agenda?” Mr. Adamu said

Mr. Adamu, who is also a lawyer, said the emirs could not have discussed Al-Mustapha then because doing so would have amounted to sub judice.

“Nobody, not even the President can meddle in that case now because it is before the courts. Nobody can touch it unless it is over,” the Jigawa Emir stated.

He explained that the primary issue of discussion at the meeting on Tuesday of the Northern leaders was the security situation in the Northern part of the country.

“We had the serious business of studying a document prepared by a committee of 10, to advise our Northern State Governors on how to prevent these frequent and disturbing problems of crises in the North,” he said.

Mr. Al-Mustapha, chief security officer to late head of state, Sani Abacha was on Monday sentenced to death by hanging by a Lagos High Court. He was convicted for the 2006 murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections, Moshood Abiola.

Mr. Al-Mustapha, a former Army major was convicted alongside Lateef Shofolahan, an aide to the victim. They have since appealed the judgment.