In continuation of his defence this morning at a Lagos High Court, Southwest Nigeria, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to the then Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha, has dropped another bombshell.

On Monday, he accused Yoruba leaders of collecting money to scuttle the mandate of Chief MKO Abiola but stopped short of mentioning their names.

Today, he lifted the veil, alleging that the late Chief Bola Ige and Pa Abraham Adesanya were among the dignitaries from the southwest who kept visiting Aso Rock after the death of Abacha. Both Ige and Adesanya died years ago.

He claimed Chief Ige was the one liaising with the Presidency earlier to either release Abiola or restore his stolen mandate. But he was the one used later to scuttle the mandate.

Al-Mustapha said he has the graphic details of how some dignitaries visited Aso Rock after the death of Abiola. One of them was Pa Adesanya, who after the death of Abacha, was angry.

He said Pa Adesanya granted interview to pressmen at the Villa.

However, he said the same dignitaries who were in Aso Rock angry were very happy when they were leaving. This event, he said, were recorded by both the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA and his camera.

As the CSO at the Aso Rock when Abacha died and General Oladipo Diya, one-time second in-command to Abacha was in detention for coup plotting, he had the responsibility of handing over to the incoming CSO.

It was at that time he made the photocopy of a letter written by the National Security Adviser, endorsed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar, the then Head of State, to the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria to withdraw $200 million, 75 million pounds and N500 million.

These monies were shared to so many people, according to Al-Mustapha.

He added that a large sum of money was also shared to some people, but he did not mention the recipients of the money.

His lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, tendered a copy of the letter. But the prosecutor, Olabisi Odugbesan objected to the admissibility of the letter.

He said it was a photostat copy. Ojo said the letter was important because the documents were weighty.

The former CSO added that the elder brother of the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie (whose name he did not mention) brought his own copy of the letter from the CBN.

He said the former IG’s brother was poisoned and killed when they realised that he was about to release the letter to the press for publication.

Part of the letter was read in the open court by Al-Mustapha. The letter requested the money for the purpose of offsetting the presidential fleet, estacode for Nigerians in Liberia and Sierra Leone and outstanding medical bills.

He said when Abdulsalami took over, government had 16 national agenda, top on the agenda was to release Abiola, put in place, a short transition programme whereby Abiola will be given his mandate after a period of time.

He said, thereafter, Abdulsalami changed the programme and many people were brought to Aso Rock to share money. Julius Berger, the company in charge of security maintenance building was moved to Minna, Niger State to construct a house with underground tunnel for Abdulsalami.

Thereafter, all bullion vans that used to bring money from the CBN to Aso rock now moved money to the home of Abdulsalami in Minna. And when Abdulsalami knew he had these things on record both in audio and video tapes, he transferred him. He said when his house was searched, his properties were removed.

He said up till now, he has made several appeals, especially when he appeared before the Oputa Panel for all the documents and his properties to be released, all to no avail.

He also appealed that the inventory of what was taken from his house be released. Even in his house, he said shoes were removed because they believed his shoes could contain tape recorders.

Al-Mustapha said these are the reasons why Gen. Abulsalami wanted him dead in order to nail him at all costs.

He said some of his loyalists like Garba, a body guard at Aso Rock then, Yari Gadzama, his body guard and Aminu Mohammed, were severely tortured by the leader of a Special Investigative Panel headed by Lt. Col. Kayode Are.

He said Kayode Are was constantly in touch with the prosecution in Lagos and induced some of the witnesses to incriminate them in their testimony and their statements.

He stated that another grouse of Abdulsalami was the prison note of Yakassai who was convicted by a military panel. His notes put together, the former CSO said, contained propaganda, falsehood, all in an attempt to incite the people against him.

He said, unfortunately, the media were used to echo the former Head of State’s falsehood agenda and propaganda against him.

As at the time of going to the press, Al-Mustapha’s defence was still ongoing.

The trial of suspects connected with the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, resumed on Monday, 1 August with Al-Mustapha slamming southwest leaders of trading the death of Abiola for loads of cash in local and foreign currencies.

Al-Mustapha, who opened his defence in his ongoing trial alleged that he had documentary evidences to show that the then Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to release various sums of money that was subsequently given to the southwest leaders to pacify them.

The former CSO told the court that the sums of $200 million, 75 million pounds, and N500 million were withdrawn from the apex bank to appease the southwest leaders. Al-Mustapha, who came into the court armed with a television set and video recorder on Monday, claimed that he was close to the late business mogul, who he had known since 1995.

He said that he knew Abiola’s killers, whose motive at the time was ‘a balancing of the equation’ , following, according to Al-Mustapha, the killing of Abacha.

Immediately he dropped the bombshell, he was challenged to mention names of those he claimed collected money from the Federal Government to scuttle Abiola’s mandate.

I know all those id-iots in afenifere will be indicted.awon baba were !

^^
thank God u admit that. . .u yurubas r bloody hypocrites

loabb:


These monies were shared to so many people, according to Al-Mustapha.

He added that a large sum of money was also shared to some people, but he did not mention the recipients of the money.

This guy is definitely mad, so he could only remember the names of Ige and Adesanya who are dead. Mention names of those alive who can defend themselves

apoti:

This guy is definitely mad, so he could only remember the names of Ige and Adesanya, who are dead. Mention names of those alive who can defend themselves

Gbam! My point exactly. I was expecting to see some really embarrassing and strong evidence. He must be going insane in the prison. Ige and Adesanya didnt have the power alone to stop reprisal attacks and an all out war. So if what he is saying is true, these people he mentioned were not bad enough. If it was Adedibu, Ooni or OBJ now, then it will be believable. But not these two.

2mch:

Gbam! My point exactly. I was expecting to see some really embarrassing and strong evidence. He must be going insane in the prison. Ige and Adesanya didnt have the power alone to stop reprisal attacks and an all out war. So if what he is saying is true, these people he mentioned were not bad enough. If it was Adedibu, Ooni or OBJ now, then it will be believable. But not these two.

You beat me to this. The guy is only using this to whip up sentiments and favour.
Why naming dead people? He needs mental check up.

seanet02:

You beat me to this. The guy is only using this to whip up sentiments and favour.
Why naming dead people? He needs mental check up.

Al Mustapha is hallucinating from too much prison time, he is begining to see dead people. Ige and Adesanya must be tormenting him in prison.

seanet02:

You beat me to this. The guy is only using this to whip up sentiments and favour.
Why naming dead people? He needs mental check up.

Don't mind the fool, he knows is definitely going down

This story does not just add up. Adesanya and Ige did not leave such stupendous wealth, more so as they died not so long after receiving the "largesse".

Fall guys imo.

They're already dead and so make convenient scapegoats.

Anyway, politics is an extremely dirty business, which is why i dont like it.

I think mustapha should just write a book about his memoirs and everyone else should let sleeping dogs lie.

When you have something happening which has never happened before eg cancelling a national election, its extremely difficult to predict how to respond to such open display of events.

LOL, this is not looking good for Yoruba. They were screaming and shout Abiola this Abiola that, Abacha waka shege, and yet their area fathers were planning on how to destroy Abiola and collect their own? Yoruba for real una no dey carry last.

Ok.

If the man is lieing then why is he still alive especially in a country like Nigeria where the likes of Bola Ige, Marshall were wiped out?

yarodin:

LOL, this is not looking good for Yoruba. They were screaming and shout Abiola this Abiola that, Abacha waka shege, and yet their area fathers were planning on how to destroy Abiola and collect their own? Yoruba for real una no dey carry last.

your hatred and bitterness wont let u think critically. ur case is hopeless, nyamiri loser.

now i know tha mustapha is just making noise. why try to implicate the dead who cant defend themselves. why come out with this now. i swear anybody who doesnt see thru this charade is a big fool. mention those who are alive, lets take it from there.

yarodin:

If the man is lieing then why is he still alive especially in a country like Nigeria where the likes of Bola Ige, Marshall were wiped out?

u r not making any sense. male sense for once in your life

These are weighty allegations but they mean nothing if there's no proof. And the onus is on him to provide that. Otherwise he's just another liar seeking cheap popularity. He should also mention names of those that are still alive. That could be his only leverage if he's telling the truth, otherwise he could be murdered before he mentions more names.

According to Yoruba tradition, one of the reasons why we have children is so that they defend us in our absence. I want to believe pa Adesanya and Uncle Bola have brilliant children who can reply this jailbird. Trying to rubbish Yoruba elders in desperation will only worsen his case. I can bet that the video about to be shown really doesnt have any tangible evidence. Probably just a video of Uncle Bola meeting a general

seriously guys, all these ''BOMB SHELL'' or watever he tags it has got nothing to do with the charges hanging on his neck.

Where does he say explicitly that they were given money?  He said they continue to visit the villa after Abacha's death and another time they went there angry and came out happy. WTF does that mean?

This is no news. The Ooni of Ife is among the ones who scuttled the mandate. We've discussed that here before.

I am a Yoruba from ikorodu Lagos. I feel ashamed of being a Yoruba after reading this pathetic story. Yoruba leader (some) are blood suckers. Pls ask bola tinubu about the death of funsho Williams in 2006

So when is Al-Mustapha the butcher going to explain the meaning of "unconciously complicit" to us?

He said Bola Ige was "unconsciously complicit"

Did they drug him then place the murder weapon in his hands? He said Adesanya visited Aso Rock and was smiling when he left, so? We know Aso Rock during his time was Hell but I don't think it's a crime to smile in front of the devil.

When will this Abacha goon tell the truth and shame Lucifer? How about Abacha's sons and their complicity? What about IBB? What about Omenka, Rogers, Bamaiyi and the other terrorists? Where is the video?

I smell fowl Yanch but I nor see hin feather

Mustapha is not Jesus, he  should speak straight and stop the parables. Who killed Abiola and what did the Americans know? Who collected bribes and how much, evidence please?

toba:

I am a Yoruba from ikorodu Lagos. I feel ashamed of being a Yoruba after reading this pathetic story. Yoruba leader (some) are blood suckers. Pls ask bola tinubu about the death of funsho Williams in 2006

You dey craze.

OmoLisabi:

You dey craze.

seconded, the stupid ibo boy has finally entered market.

Almustapha the mad man

YeeeeeOLEbaaaaa people no dey disappiont. see as they sell MKO finish like 419 paper over the internet.

Shame on the useless YeeeeOLEba people. see as them full UK dey throw paper left right and centre and to think i voted for MKO makes me sad.

YeeerrreeeeOLEbaaaaa, dirty people, HABA! HHHAAAAABBBBAAA! Ofeemmanu people, softly softly oooooooooo. Una too like money, thief thief thief

OLE people. kai!

Mustapha is blatant liar!

Toba

i think your shame should be connected to your activities on this forum, not some wild tales by moonlight somewhere.

We all know some yoruba leaders betray abiola but not people like baba ige and adesanya.i am very sure gani fawehinmi will make  the list since he is also dead

@ topic

i see the media have again been cued to start whipping up frenzy.


Lets see what other interesting headlines and stories they come up with.