Arewa supports Al-Mustapha retrial, says it hopes justice is properly served

Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), has expressed support for the retrial of former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd)

The group said “the outcome of Lagos appeal will settle the matter once and for all.”

Lagos State had approached the Supreme Court seeking leave to appeal the ruling of the Appeal Court on the case of murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12 1993 presidential election that was annulled by the then Military President, Ibrahim Babangida.

The appellant court on July 12, 2013 discharge and acquitted Al-Mustapha after it set aside an earlier judgement of a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere that convicted and sentenced him to death by hanging on January 30, 2012.

The Lagos appeal of the ruling however received the consent of Nigeria’s acting Chief Justice, Walter Onnoghen, who Thursday ordered a retrial of the murder case.

Read also: Lagos gets S/Court nod to retry Al-Mustapha for murder of late Abiola’s wife, Kudirat

But AYCF, in a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Yerima Usman Shettima, disclosed that the outcome of Lagos appeal will settle the matter once and for all, adding that, “as the case stands now, the fate of the accused still hangs in the balance.”

The group which expressed confidence in the judiciary to give a fair judgement however warned some northern elites who are according to it have been working with their southern partners to malign a party to desist from such or risk exposure.

AYCF said, “If they continue with their diabolic tactics, the time to expose them is now. We are keenly watching body movement of individuals and group of people who might attempt to pervert the cause of justice.

“we at the AYCF also hope that justice will be properly done at the end of the day.”

 

 

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