Hamza Al-Mustapha and late Kudirat Abiola.
Supreme Court has brought a final closure to the long-running murder case involving Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, over the killing of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late politician and democracy icon, Chief MKO Abiola.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel of justices led by Justice Uwani Musa Aba-Aji, the apex court dismissed the case, effectively terminating the prosecution initiated by the Lagos State Government.
Kudirat Abiola, a prominent pro-democracy activist, was assassinated in Lagos during the political unrest that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by her husband, MKO Abiola. Her killing occurred amid sustained resistance against military rule and efforts to reverse the annulled election.
The Supreme Court held that the Lagos State Government had shown a clear lack of interest in pursuing the appeal. Justice Aba-Aji noted that nine years was more than sufficient time for the state to file a notice and brief of appeal, describing the delay as inexcusable.
The court further expressed displeasure over the absence of legal representation for the Lagos State Government, despite evidence that hearing notices had been duly served on all parties since 2020. No explanation, the court observed, was offered for the state’s failure to appear or advance its case.
Consequently, the apex court dismissed the appeal, putting an end to the trial and closing a chapter in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile and politically sensitive murder cases.
