The Supreme Court has dismissed the long-running murder trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former chief security officer to late military ruler General Sani Abacha, over the killing of Kudirat Abiola.
In a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, struck out the case after faulting the Lagos State Government for what it described as a loss of interest in prosecuting the matter.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Aba-Aji held that the state had effectively abandoned the appeal, noting that “nine years was more than sufficient for the appellant to file a notice of appeal and the brief of appeal in the matter.”
The court also expressed displeasure over the absence of legal representation for the Lagos State Government during proceedings, even though hearing notices had been served since 2020.
“The court is disgusted that no information was made available to the court and the respondent, even though the appellant was duly served,” Justice Aba-Aji said.
Kudirat Abiola, the wife of late businessman and politician Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, was assassinated in Lagos during the nationwide unrest that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely believed to have been won by MKO Abiola. She was a prominent figure in the struggle to reverse the annulment.
The murder charge against Al-Mustapha had been instituted by the Lagos State Government. However, with Wednesday’s ruling, the Supreme Court formally brought the case to an end.
