Court says Al-Mustapha has case to answer in Kudirat’s murder
A Lagos High Court has dismissed an application seeking a declaration that Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha has no case to answer in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted CSP Rabo Lawal charged along with Al-Mustapha, the
Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Justice Mojisola Dada acquitted Lawal on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link him with the murder.
Kudirat, human rights activist and wife of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was shot dead 15 years ago in Ikeja.
Ruling on the application filed by Al-Mustapha, the judge held that the prosecution established enough evidence (prima facie) to warrant Al-Mustapha to prove his innocence in Kudirat’s murder.
Dada also held that Kudirat’s aide, Lateef Sofolahan, also charged along with Al-Mustapha, had a case to answer in the murder.
The judge, however, said that she would not consider at this stage, the credibility or otherwise of the evidence of the prosecution witnesses – Sgt. Barnabas Jabila Mshiela (a.k.a. Sgt Rogers) and Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a. Katako).
She consequently adjourned the case till Aug. 1 for opening of defence.
The defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, had urged the court to discharge and acquit Al-Mustapha and Sofolahan, saying that the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.
He submitted that there was no legally admissible evidence on the matter before the court.
Ojo said that the prosecution witnesses were induced to give evidence against the accused.
However, the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), submitted that the evidence was enough for the court to convict the accused.
A Lagos High Court has dismissed an application seeking a declaration that Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha has no case to answer in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted CSP Rabo Lawal charged along with Al-Mustapha, the
Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Justice Mojisola Dada acquitted Lawal on the grounds that the prosecution failed to link him with the murder.
Kudirat, human rights activist and wife of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, was shot dead 15 years ago in Ikeja.
Ruling on the application filed by Al-Mustapha, the judge held that the prosecution established enough evidence (prima facie) to warrant Al-Mustapha to prove his innocence in Kudirat’s murder.
Dada also held that Kudirat’s aide, Lateef Sofolahan, also charged along with Al-Mustapha, had a case to answer in the murder.
The judge, however, said that she would not consider at this stage, the credibility or otherwise of the evidence of the prosecution witnesses – Sgt. Barnabas Jabila Mshiela (a.k.a. Sgt Rogers) and Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a. Katako).
She consequently adjourned the case till Aug. 1 for opening of defence.
The defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, had urged the court to discharge and acquit Al-Mustapha and Sofolahan, saying that the prosecution could not establish a prima facie case against them.
He submitted that there was no legally admissible evidence on the matter before the court.
Ojo said that the prosecution witnesses were induced to give evidence against the accused.
However, the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), submitted that the evidence was enough for the court to convict the accused.
No comments:
Post a Comment