Court Frees Al-Mustapha, Others On Attempted Murder Charges

Court Frees Al-Mustapha, Others On Attempted Murder Charges

Reprieve came the way of Major Hamzat Al Mustapha, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha and others, on Tuesday, as they were discharged and acquitted of murder charges by a Lagos High Court.

Major Al-Mustapha and others have been standing trial over an alleged attempt to murder the publisher of the Guardian Newspapers, Chief Alex Ibru.

The judge, Muftau Olokooba in his ruling on the 11-year-old suit, said that the accused had no case to answer.

Judgement

Justice Olokooba further declared that the evidence on all the counts preferred against the accused was thoroughly worthless and that there was no evidence of conspiracy as alleged.

“I hold that no prima facie case has been established against the accused persons. I hereby acquit and discharge them ,” Justice Olokooba said.

While arguing the no case application, a counsel for one of the accused person had declared that where an essential element had not been proved, his client had no case to answer.

He therefore urged the court to discountenance the testimony of prosecution witnesses who had, at one time or another contradicted themselves during cross examination.

Those standing trial alongside Al-Mustapha included former Lagos state Police Commissioner, James Danbaba, former Zamfara state Administrator, Lieutenant-Colonel Jubrin Bala Yakubu and former Head of the Aso Rock Anti-Riot Police, Rabo Lawal.

NP/Margret/Qasim/Yinka