The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has on Friday acquitted Major Hamza Al Mustapha, former security chief to late Sani Abacha of conspiracy and murder charges in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. The Court in a unanimous decision ruled that there was no direct circumstantial evidence that he conspired with anyone as evidence of prosecution witnesses in that regard were contradictory. The judgment was delivered in two separate appeals filed by the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha, and Lateef Shofolahan. Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan, a former aide to the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, challenged the death sentence handed them by Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court for masterminding the assassination of Kudirat. Three judges who decided their fate are Justice Amina Adamu Augie (presiding), Justice Rita Pemu and Justice F O Akinbami. Al-Mustapha's appeal was anchored on four grounds, that of his co-convict (Shofolahan) was hinged on five grounds.
The court awaits the judgement on Lateef Shofolahan.
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