Major Hamza Al- Mustapha, former Chief
Security Officer, CSO, to late the Head of State,
Gen. Sani Abacha, , has written the Army
High Command, requesting for concessions on
his position in the Army.
Sources in the Army told our correspondent that
Al- Mustapha is seeking his accelerated
promotion to the rank of a Major-General and his
consequent retirement with his full benefits paid.
The argument had been that due to his “age on
rank”, he should be retired as a Major from the
Army but the former CSO is seeking a waiver on
the grounds that he was unjustly incarcerated.
For the over 14 years that Al-Mustapha spent in
prison, the Army high command had paid half of
his monthly salary to his family.
While Al-Mustapha’s case has been presented to
the Army council, the Legal Department is said to
be studying the issue with a view to coming up
with mutually acceptable recommendations.
Our correspondent learnt yesterday that Al-
Mustapha’s lawyers were waiting the Army’s
resolution of the issue with a view to either
accepting it or approaching the law courts to get
a fair deal for their client.
The Army Council is composed of the Minister of
Defence, Permanent Secretary, Chief of Defence
Staff, Chief of Army Staff and some other
administrative staff.
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig- Gen.
Ibrahim Attahiru, said that as a professional
force, the Army had already looked into Al-
Mustapha’s case and had forwarded his petition
to the Army Council.
He also confirmed that the Legal Department was
already handling the issue.
The former CSO wrote the Army requesting that
his case be treated fairly and that he should be
granted certain concessions.
Attahiru was, however, silent on the concessions
being sought by Al-Mustapha.
“The Army, as an organisation looked into this
matter and it has been presented to the Army
Council – the highest body.
“But the specific departments handling the issue
now are the Legal Department and another,
which are looking into it and will come up with
their submissions soon.
“Al-Mustapha wrote to the Army requesting for
certain concessions but the Army is still looking
at it and very soon, we shall take a position on
the matter and it would be made public,” he said.
Attahiru said the Army has nothing to hide on the
issue and that it will never deviate into partisan
politics.
The Army had in July debunked speculations that
Al-Mustapha had been promoted and decorated
with a new rank of Brigadier- General, explaining
that all administrative procedures are guided by
extant rules and regulations such as the Armed
Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and
Conditions among others.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, had on July
12 discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha over an
alleged conspiracy and the murder of Alhaja
Kudirat Abiola, the wife of late MKO Abiola, on
June 4, 1996.
Abiola won the 1993 presidential election,
annulled by the military government of Gen.
Ibrahim Babangida.
The court had upturned a death sentence handed
down on him on January 30, 2013, by Justice
Mojisola Dada, of a Lagos High Court.
Three days after his release, the Army had
confirmed that Al-Mustapha was still in its fold
and that his case would be handled
administratively in line with the harmonised
terms and conditions of service.
Already, the Lagos State Government had
challenged the ruling before the Supreme Court.
www.osundefender.org/?p=121506

See person wey dem for don hang.

^^^ but dem no hang am

I wonder if this man who has been gallivanting across the length and breadth of this country even has lawyers to advise him that LASG is currently appealing his discharge and acquital at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Does he intend to show up when the case comes for mention? What if the judgement is ruled against him? there will be no middle ground, as the court does not give what you don't ask... Either they uphold the ruling of the Appeal Court which let him off, or uphold the ruling of the High Court which condemned him.

Al Mustapha is preparing for a political seat under PDP, the writing is on the wall.

If he is not guilty let them Grant him what is his due simple