The Supreme Court has brought to an end the long-running trial of a former Chief Security Officer to late military head of state, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, over the murder of late Kudirat Abiola.
Kudirat Abiola was the wife of the late businessman and politician, MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by former military president, Ibrahim Babangida.
She was assassinated in Lagos during the nationwide unrest that followed the annulment of the election, at a time when she was actively involved in the struggle to reverse the decision and restore the mandate believed to have been freely given to her husband by Nigerians.
Al-Mustapha was charged by the Lagos State Government over her murder, a case that lingered for several years in the courts. However, the apex court finally laid the matter to rest in a unanimous decision delivered by a five-man panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court held that the Lagos State Government had effectively lost interest in the case and abandoned its prosecution. The court noted that despite being served with hearing notices since 2020, the state failed to appear or provide any form of legal representation.
Justice Aba-Aji stated that nine years was more than sufficient for the appellant to file a notice of appeal and submit the required brief of argument, describing the prolonged delay as unacceptable.
The apex court further expressed displeasure over the absence of any explanation or information from the Lagos State Government regarding its failure to pursue the case. On that basis, the court dismissed the matter, thereby bringing the trial of Al-Mustapha in the Kudirat Abiola murder case to a close.
