Boko Haram threatens to kill judges over Al-Mustapha •ACF, Emirs hold secret meeting •Prisons Service renovates cell for Al-Mustapha •Al-Mustapha, Shofolahan appeal judgment

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Boko Haram threatens to kill judges over Al-Mustapha •ACF, Emirs hold secret meeting •Prisons Service renovates cell for Al-Mustapha •Al-Mustapha, Shofolahan appeal judgment

Written by Hassan Ibrahim, Adebayo Waheed and Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare Tuesday, 31 January 2012

REPORTS have it that the dreaded sect, Boko Haram, has taken a position on the death sentence passed on the Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, over the killing of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola “by taunting the government to carry out the judgment and we’ll widen the scope of our operations.”

The Boko Haram said once the death sentence was executed, it would extend its attack to judges and courts all over Nigeria.

The group’s spokesman, Abul Qaqa, was quoted to have said in a statement on Monday night: “Should the Nigerian government dare carry out the sentence announced earlier today on Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha (retd), the full-scale attacks will be expanded from security agencies and agents to the judiciary, from police stations to courts and so on. All chief justices, High Court judges and Appeal Court judges should take note. The blood of Al-Mustapha is the blood of the Nigerian masses.”

A Lagos State High Court, on Monday, sentenced Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan to death by hanging for their involvement in the conspiracy to kill and for killing Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

A leader of the disbanded Strike Force, Barnabas Jabila, popularly known as Sergeant Rogers, confessed to carrying out the shooting of Kudirat based on a plot that was hatched with the knowledge of Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan.

Also reacting to the death sentence, leader of the Niger Delta Volunteers Force, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari said Al-Mustapha must not be executed.

Dokubo-Asari insinuated that the decision to sentence Al-Mustapha to death at this period was meant to destabilise the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said that during past administrations, those trying Al-Mustapha could not get a conviction, asking why it was now that Jonathan was in power that they were able to do so.

Writing on his wall on social media network, Facebook, Dokubo-Asari said: “This is a day of shame for us all....shame on you Nigeria....al-Mustapha and other innocent men will not die....they will live. Insha Allah...the treachery and conspiracy against Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan will fail. When your man OBJ (former President Olusegun Obasanjo) was there for eight years, you did not get a conviction...Umar Musa Yar’Adua, you did not get a conviction....Shame on you...your conspiracy will fail.”

Meanwhile, apparently worried by the death sentence on Major Al-Mustapha, chieftains of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and emirs from across the North converged on Kaduna, on Tuesday, for a secret meeting on how to confront the issue.

Newsmen were not allowed into the Lugard Hall venue of the meeting, which lasted for about five hours, the emirs refused to speak to them nor issued a communique.

However, a source told newsmen that apart from the issue of Al-Mustapha, which they all believed would be best handled by the judiciary, they also discussed the state of the nation, the recent Kano attacks and other threats by the leadership of the Boko Haram sect.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, led the meeting and others in attendance were the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Kabir Nagogo; Emirs of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris; Gombe, Paki, Zamfara; the Etsu Nupe, the Tor Tiv and the Olofa of Ofa, Oba Muftau Osuoye.

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, was absent at the meeting, as he was to be at home receiving visitors, who thronged his palace to show sympathy over the Kano bombing.

Meanwhile, the authorities of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) have commenced the renovation of the cells that will house Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Shofolahan.

Nigerian Tribune learnt, on Tuesday, that renovation had commenced in the two cells that would house them at the Maximum Prison Special, Kirikiri, Lagos.

A source at the prison said the cells were being painted while toiletries were to be provided.

Unlike a situation where two or three condemned criminals stay in one cell, Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan are expected to stay in one cell each.

On arrival at the prison on Monday, it was learnt that Al-Mustapha distributed N300 each to 162 prisoners serving life imprisonment and those condemned.

It was further learnt that he allegedly released N1.5 million for the renovation of Block 2 where he stayed until he was condemned and N1.06 million for sporting activities.

The former CSO was sentenced to death by hanging for his role in the murder of Mrs Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, on June 4, 1996.

Al-Mustapha, Shofolahan appeal judgment
Both Al-Mustapha and Alhaji Shofolahan, on Tuesday, filed notices of appeal against the judgment of the trial court.

The decision of the lower court declared by Justice Mojisola Dada was described by the duo of Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan as “unreasonable, unwarranted and a clear miscarriage of justice.”

The trial judge had, while handing down the verdict, held that the prosecution was able to successfully prove that Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan conspired with others to kill Kudirat on June 4, 1996.

In his notice of appeal, Al-Mustapha wanted the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to set aside the judgment and discharge him of the charges of conspiracy and murder.

The duo, in their notices of appeal filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, argued that Justice Dada erred in law by arriving at the conclusion that they killed Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996.

While Al-Mustapha’s appeal was anchored on four grounds, Shofolahan hinged his appeal on five grounds.

They argued that the trial court erred in law by relying on the evidence of Dr Ore Falomo, the first prosecution witness, that the bullet extracted from Kudirat’s head was a special bullet not commonly seen, and that it was a fifth columnist in the government that carried out the killing, following the look of the bullet.

The appellants maintained that Dr Falomo was rather a medical practitioner and not a ballistician, and that the bullet in question was not produced as evidence, and so the said Dr Falomo lacked the expertise to give expert opinion on any kind of bullet.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

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Who killed Judges for Saro-Wiwa?
written by Eurofighter, February 01, 2012

If after appeal the judgment is upheld, I'd like to see if the State will chicken-out on the heels of Boko Haram's threat. If the judgment is execution, they should be executed. When Saro-Wiwa was hanged by a Northerner, who killed Judges in retaliation? Dokubo should learn to mind his outburst. If Jonathan is in power, a long-standing case should not be concluded shebi? If the judgment is death sentence it should not be passed because Jonathan is in power or what is he trying to say?. I guess a lot of people have simply goine mad in this country.

...
written by Dennise, February 01, 2012

Hang them quickly h

On Dokubo-Asari statement.
written by Adisa Adigun, February 01, 2012

Dokubo Asari's statement that the conviction of Al mustapha is a plot to destabilize Mr. jonathan government gives me good insight why he could not graduate with a law degree from the university. Dokubo Asari is nothing more than a religion fanatics. So all other aspect of life including the trial of mudereres must stop because Mr. Jonathan, an Ijaw man is the president of Nigeria. It is very foolish for Asari to be giving an ethnic bias to the timing of this judgement. The trial had been on before Ebele Jonathan became president and his presidency have polarized Nigerians rather than unite us because of Mr. jonathan wisperings that filters out. Nigeria need to build very strong and credible institutions rather than strong and uneducated personality that Mr. Asari is trying to become. Mr. Jonathan and his immedite predicessor, Yaradua preached the rule of law and these two muderers were convicted in a court of law. The court is a place where civilized people chanell anger and Ansari coulf have joined al Mustaphaer ans sofolahan legal team in appealing this case rather than creating mob on the street of Nigeria. Chief Gani Fawehinmi took up the case of extra dudicial killing of Saro Wiwa and legally fought Sani abacha in court without fear of being killed. That to me is boldness. President jonathan have been using people like
Dokubo-Asari to express his dissaffection over the right Nigerians have been expressing recently over their human right protection. Sani Abacha used these two guys to terrorize and kill Nigerians and their death sentence is appropriate and commensurate with their offence. Mr. Jonathan is doing something wrong for Nigerian to be so polarized under his watch in spite of the fact that Nigerians especially all the southern states voted for him overwhelmingly. A Yoruba adage said "Ogbon ju Agbara" meaning knowledge is superior to physical power and the Yorubas have both in abundance and lacked none of the two. My senior brother was conscripted at 16 years of age by the Nigerian army in Lagos, trained at Lafenwa Abeokuta and sent directly to Ugor okpala in Oweri from 1968 to 1971 when he was posted back to Lagos. he fought gallantly even with little preparation and such is the mentality of most yorubas. we don't boast around but we are always ready. Dokubo-Asari and whoever send him to be creating disaffection among Nigerians over a legitimate court ruling should be careful

Comrade
written by Wole Shittu, February 01, 2012

Dokunbo,

I want to believe that the comments atributed to you on the death judgement passed on Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan, that it was a setup to bring down government of Jonathan was falsely attributed to you.

What has those issues got to do with each other?
You really disappointed many of us who were supporting you and your movement during ur struggle with the Aso Rock. Insinuating that the Yorubas were trying to bring down Jonathan is the most uselesss talk coming from any Nigerian activist in this polical era. Yorubas, in case you forgot have always been the vangard of justice in Nigeria more than any other group. The Yorubas defended Sarowiwa as much as they defended Abiola, even when some of the people from South South busy befriending Abacha. It looks to me that you are afraid of the core North and Boko Haram with all your Radicalism. No one among the Yorubais is not afraid of the Boko Haram, and at the appropriate time will comfront them squarely for their crimes against Nigeria and humanity.

We love Jonathan and people of Niger Delta, and the Yorubas and other nationaliies that belive in "Justice for Every Nigerians" made sure the he was not denied presidency, even though many of these Southern Nationalities looked the other way when Abacha/Babaginda denied Abiola. The Yorubas and others nationwide ensured that Jonathan was not denied. Yorubas also voted for Jonathan even though most of them would never vote PDP. Obasanjo presidency was a creation of southsouth, southeast and the north, and an average Yorubaman never taught of OBJ presidency as a blessing to them going by what he did for the Yorubas.

Dokunbo; what is your beef then? Stop fanning tribal and sectional politics and join other Nigerians to find solutions to Nigeria problems. GOD used OBJ to help Jonathan become the president of Nigeriam something that some northern polliticians and military worked against

Jonathan will not be president forever, and he is not likely to solve all the problems of Niger Delta, so the people of Niger Delta will continue to need the support of other Nigerians to actualizetheir dreams.

Finally, if Mrs Kudirat Abiola were your sister or wife mother, you will wish that JUSTICE is done regardless of whose horse is gored in the process. Some of us worked for very hard for actualization of June 12, just like we campaigned against the hanging of Sarowiwa, worldwide. If truly your are truthfully, a freedom activist, I suggest you publicly change your comments on this Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan conviiction.

This is supposed to be a govt. of law, order and justice. Sacrifing JUSTICE just to appease the North seem to the same approach that embolden Boko Haram and turn them into a national problem because jonathan failed to nip the problem in the bud maximum political will and force.

God bless the people of Niger Delta and Nigeria

A country of absurdities.
written by Kennedy Ikantu, February 01, 2012

It is unthinkable that political reasons are being adduced to condemn a court judgment. All these point to the fact that, the earlier President Jonathan calls for a Conference of all nationalities in this country to discuss the terms of our staying together as a country, the consequences be more fatal than we are experiencing now

...
written by ian banks, February 01, 2012

this man mr al-mustapha killed many and shows no remose for is actions. as much as i object to the taken of life of any body, the madam dada as taken a bold step. if they have to die so be it, after all they smiled, joked and enjoyed whille taking many lifes

Thou shall not kill
written by Andy Anderson, February 01, 2012

13yrs in Nigeria prison is like death sentence. We should remember that only God that we should be accountable to. Mustapha was a CSO and was taking instructions from his superior officers as a military officer and not as a civilian. He should not be executed. Allow this man to be alive and answer questions from his creator. If he has taken live, he will be accountable to his creator. Allow him to be and his charges should be dropped. Life belongs to God Almighty and therefore, Mustapha should be allowed to stay alive.

...
written by Mao1, February 01, 2012

This Asari Dokubo guy is a nuisance - so blinded by ethnicity and over-bloated sense of self-importance.

His assessment of every issue is always tied around somebody trying to destroy GEJ and his government.

nigeria judiciary is a fail,
written by haruna abdullahi maikano, February 01, 2012

after 13yrs of judgement ds is d result..i am this appointed with our court system..come to think of it.what are they doin on the issue discuss or said by almustaphe about abdulsalami abubakar nd bola ige issue.they want to tel us that it has notin to do wiz wat is happinin in nigeria.nigerian judiciary you have bttr things to concentreda on nt puttin effort on one issue please

-1

Mr
written by Misbahu Maihula, February 01, 2012

THANK YOU BOKO HARAM

-1

...
written by Abba emir, February 01, 2012

I want to the death sentences of Almustapha and shofolahan would not lead gud to nigeria and it would make more crises to nigeria.

...
written by Nofiu, February 01, 2012

Asari Dokubo is a confusionist who should keep quiet. A Niger-Delta guy who knows him told me that the guy is an illitetrate who is does not reason nor talks logically. Of course how can one reconciles some of his vague and empty analysis on national issues in recent times. Instead of advising GEG to buckle-up and act as a true leader by stopping all these senseless killings in the land,he is always expressing tribals setiments.

Al mustapha
written by mike20000, February 01, 2012

I am a christain and from south Nigeria, I beleive in one Nigeria and justice, killing mustapha is injustice, those people that sentence him to death should rethink, mustapha acted according to the instruction given to him by his boss, and government people are still killing innocent nigerian without any justice given to the family of those people killed, is it because it is aboila that they want to kill mustapha, the president should use his power to stop the killing of mustapha or he will leave to regret it.

-2

Asari Dokubu's comment on the Judgement on Almustapha.
written by bununu, February 01, 2012

That is Nigeria for you. Whenever an issue crops up citizens expose our problem of viewing things from geo-ethno-religious perspectives instead of being objective. The court has passed its judgement based on the evidence before it and Almustapha has appealed. Just as many commentators have said, no matter how long, justice must prevail, it is true for both Kudirat and Almustapha. If Almustapaha is innocent, by Allah's Grace, no matter how long it takes, he would be discharged. However, if he is guilty, whatever anybody does to make him escape from thejudgement of humans, there is the jjudgement of The Almighty and i am sure all believers know this. Whjat is bad about the whole thing is that people in high places have played too much politics with the lives of both Late Madam Kudirat and that of Almustapha and Nigeria will be the worse for it should we make this case additional point of divergence. No section has the right to feel its interest is being undermine. Almustapha is a Nigerian just like Late Kudirat and both have the right to be treated fairly. Just Alhaji Asari should be chided for reading so unnecessarily deep the implication of the judgement, Dokubo is right to raised concern on why it took the Lagos courts the whole period spanning Obasanjo- Yar'adua regimes to arrived at th judgement, notwithstanding the need to be meticulous in handling criminal case of such intricacies

mr
written by wole ajayi, February 01, 2012

Al-Mustapha was allegedly to have released N1.5 million for the renovation of Block 2 of kirikiri prison where he stayed until he was condemned and N1.06 million for sporting activities.what a shame for the decadence in our system.Does it means our prisons also await privatization or de regulation or what grammar is the Fedral Govt going to apply here. God save us o

...
written by yusuf Hambolu, February 01, 2012

come to think of it where and how did he got the money he is spending in the prison from as a major in the army? na wa ooo

On Almustapha and the prison
written by Annie Ezechukwu , February 01, 2012

If Almustapha can have enough to dole out about three million naira, after 13 years in prisons, how much is he worth? If he was jailed as a major, and 13 years after, he could be this rich, then you need to imagine the extent of looting of the National treasury that took place under Abacha and Babangida!!!;;;
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Almustapha has been sentenced to death for doing his masters will. Yet Sani Abacha continues to enjoy such honors as having roads named after him in so many towns and cities in the North including Abuja. Why single out Almustapha for trial? Is it because he is an ordinary major. Think, Nigeria. Think.

Asari Dokubo's Comment
written by Silia, February 01, 2012

Asari, stop supporting your moslem brothers. Yes you may be an Ijaw man but you are a moslem. He who kills by the sword will die by the sword. Today is Al Mustapha, one day boko haram will meet their dead for all the innocent blood they are spilling. God is watching he is giver of every life.

Dr.
written by Doktar Dan Oludipe, February 01, 2012

They are on their own. Mustafa and co must swallow the bitter pills of death. QED.

Confront the emirs too.
written by Ben Alali, February 01, 2012

Your outrage should be directed to the emirs and the ACF who are strategizing on how to circumvent the death sentence of the abacha crew. Dokubo only voiced his opinion, if there is any dispaly of foolishness in this instance, it must be you spineless worms who are scared to confront the arrogance of North.Did I see the name of Olofa of Offa? very typical.
BAlali

Re Dokubo Statement
written by Temitayo Oladapo, February 01, 2012

A reasonable person should just laugh at Dokubo statement. He is a fool and idiot. He always ethnicise everything because Jonathan is from Niger Delta. You are minority and if not fro the vote from majority tribe, Jonathan will never be a president. You complain about everything, they protested against removal of fuel subsidy you blamed people, they sentence those who involved in a crime you complained. Its obvious that you are completely failure who is looking for post. I will rather say, shame on you.

Al-Mustapha
written by deleoyibo, February 01, 2012

All hail one Nigeria, and who says we, Nigerians are not winning as a nation, with one God?I bet you,late Kuburat Abiola,hundreds of those youth corpers and innocent Nigeria who lost thier live through the terrorist bombs of the Boko Haram are all lesser Nigeria, mind not that they are not Nigeria, but they do not amtter as far as our Northern Emirs are concern and one ranting cockcroack call Asari
who beleife that Jonathan is more than all Nigerians put together. For this irritant, the rest of us could go to blazes as far as Goodluck is spared and allowed to continue his slow pace administartion. See why Nigeria will never grow, as long as this tribal sentiment remain a major factor in determining who and what rules the Nation call Nigeria.
Because One of their own was condemned to death by a valid and competent court for offe3nces commited, the emirs with all the loads on their head could now come together to consider the way forward for Nigeria, as if nothing has happened before now, see what I mean? and the idiot call Asari would not mind who ever is killed as long as Jonathan remain the president such killer remained untorchable, so say General Asari,I rejoice with my fellow Nigerian for the revival of our Nation and the emergence of these mordern day freedom fighters, we are surely winning as people and as a nation.
deleoyibo

emirs meeting
written by ANAYO, February 01, 2012

Emirs having a secrete meeting and do not allow a reporter
They are going to Deliver another alQUADA.Please are we safe here. Yet they are GOVT reprentatives.

...
written by Obayemi, February 01, 2012

Dokubo, why do you like to talk out of your sences?. Why do you always like to tribalise the politics?. The Yorubas are known for their strougle for equal right and justice than ant other race in Nigeria. The only tribe in Nigeria who does not the wrong doings of their fellow Yoruba, they will stand against you when you are wrong and will stand by you when you are right. The Yorubas have done it before, they are doing it now and they will continue to do it , because its a culture. The Yorubas understand the potetiality of JUSTICE, they dont play with it.
Dokubo, if you must know, It was the Yorubas who voted Jonathan in as president, it was this same Yoruba voice we heard during Ken Saro-Wiwa, it was this same Yoruba that have always stood up against injustice in Nigeria, even, you have benefite enomously from the Yoruba led strougles than your tribes led. When Ken was hanged, what was the reactions of the north?, no solidarity from them. In short, the Yorubas have work harder for the sincere Unity if Nigeria than any other tribe. For me, i expect any right thinking Nigerian to surport the verdict. The boko haram cant win the whole Nigeria. Let them limit their violence to the north, or else, the country will get brokend in few days.

Al Mustapha must die.
written by Obayemi, February 01, 2012

Dokubo, your comrade in killings will surelly die, ok. You are a tribalist, senceless who doesn't think before talking.

Nigerian problems
written by Noname, February 02, 2012

The problem of Nigeria is the Northern Nigeria and their so called emirs. Sultan of Sokoto again rushing to defend Northern criminals. He said that boko harams are not responsible for the killings going on in the North because boko haram are the islamic and northern militant groups under the sultan of sokoto the sarkin musulumi. Now he want to defend a northern murderer in the name of a common Major Al-mustapher whom the whole world know that he is a deadly killer and a thief. Did any one read how much money this criminal common major stole from Nigerians? despite the fact that he was in prison for 13yrs. God have mercy on Nigeria. These northerners has killed this country. Now the devilish, criminals, jihadists northern militant boko haram are all out to defend their own because they want to kill more. When abatcha and al-mustapha killed Kudiratu Abiola where were they? Well the Yoruba nation has been playing servitude to the north hence they should be used as such. Omo Oduduwas wake up from your slumber!!!!