Court refuses to re-open murder case against Al-Mustapha.
A Lagos High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by the Lagos State Government to re-open the murder case against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, Rabo Lawal and Lateef Shofolahan.
The trio are facing criminal trial over their alleged involvement in the murder of the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Justice Mojisola Dada had earlier closed the case of the prosecution over its inability to produce witnesses in court.
In her ruling, she held that the application to reopen the case of the prosecution was an attack on the independence and impartiality of the court.
She also said the prosecution had not shown that the evidence of the proposed witnesses was vital to the just determination of the suit.
Dada accused the Lagos State Solicitor-General, Lawal Pedro, of being under the delusion that the court was an extension or an affiliate of his office.
She held that the submission of the prosecution that the Principal Witness Four, (Commissioner of Police Fari Yusuf), would not come to court until the court reopened the case further worsened the success of the application.
Dada also observed that out of 11 witnesses listed by the prosecution only three were eventually available in court.
She adjourned the matter till June 23 for adoption of written addresses.
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