Politics
Still On Al-Mustapha’s Death Sentence
Last Monday, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos High Court sentenced Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to death by hanging for the 1996 murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood K.O. Abiola. Sentenced alongside Al-Mustapha was Alhaji Lateef Sofolahan, an aide of Kudirat.
The case had lasted for about twelve years. Years filled with legal, judicial and political rigmarole, which has widely been viewed to have been made possible by Nigeria’s judicial system.
No doubt, the fact that the judiciary, as represented by Justice Dada, finally proclaimed a sentence, proves the saying that “justice delayed is not justice denied”, but it did not forclose the tragedy that the case lasted for such a long period.
The mere fact that others like Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd.) and CSP Rabo Lawal, who were detained alongside Al-Mustapha, could opt for a speedy trial only gives credence to what has become apparent that the entire trial looked more like a clever ploy by the accused to delay, or even subvert justice.
On the face of it, the judiciary has not only exonerated itself from the common man’s belief that it is incapable of calling the mighty (or once mighty) in our society to order, but has also stated in no mean terms that anyone who commits heinous crime (including those done in the guise of serving the state) will eventually pay for it. It is also indicative that it will amount to arrant foolishness on the part of a criminal to imagine that he could wear out that court with the hope of escaping justice.
For these reasons, and more specifically, the judiciary’s patience, focus and candour in what could unarguably be christened a merry-go-round trial obviously created by the defence, the judiciary, particularly in Lagos, deserves some level of accolade.
However, in better organised societies, such case as the assassination of Kudirat Abiola would have been an open and shut one in which the accused would be given ample opportunity to prove their innocence, and justice would be metted out without undue delay.
The implication is that it is now time for the Nigerian judiciary to sit back and examine how justice could be dispensed much more speedily in the face of apparent but conscious obstacles likely to be put up by the defence.
Without prejudice to the final outcome of the case, following Al-Mustapha’s appeal last Tuesday, another journey in to desert island may not do well to the image of the judiciary, moreso, as it will be coming on the heels of a twelve month journey through similar route.
As indicated earlier, this case is not just for Al-Mustapha, who, backed by a dictatorial military government, took impunity to the level that made everything else, including human lives, nonsense. It is a message to some of our current politicians, who are wont to toe the same line of impunity; who feel more comfortable when their word becomes law, even in a democratic dispensation.
It may, therefore, be pertinent to remind our politicians, perhaps for the umpteenth time, that democracy is all about majority, and that no one can be so powerful that he becomes untouchable.
Like some public office holders today, Al-Mustapha, in his rampage on inhuman toga, must have thought he was too powerful to be touched, and his office too important to be probed on the grounds of national security.
As a democratic state, Nigeria has signed, sealed and delivered its determination to uphold the rule of law in its entirety. This is why it is most pertinent for every body, particularly those in authority, to note that the Judiciary should be sacrosanct; that for Nigeria to be regarded as a civilised country in the commity of nations, its inhabitants must get the message that no matter how long justice is delayed, they will one day be called to account for their actions.
Perhaps if Al-Mustapha had known when he was rolling in the hay as a supremo that what has befallen him today was waiting far him, he would have had a rethink on some of his actions.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately) for Al-Mustapha, the history of Nigeria’s quest for democracy will not be complete without mention made of him, though his was a military regime. This is why the Nigerian State, as portrayed by its leadership, cannot be so reckless in leadership as to warrant the military to consider a cameback to governance.
Let us, as Nigerians, not forget that the Al-Mustapha scenario was made possible by the impunity of Military rule, which cancelled the first most valid election in the country, and gave birth to the illegality that led to the despotic Abacha junta that produced Al-Mustapha’s “strike Force”, which terrorized Nigerians and took Nigeria to its lowest ebb, using Abacha’s shield.
The key question for current Nigerian leaders is how they want their names written in the big book of Nigeria’s turbulent journey from creation, knowing that if their names are not written in the good part of the book, some day nemesis can catch up with them.
The Rivers contest is expected to draw heightened attention in the oil-rich state, as political actors position for influence in a district long regarded as strategic to the balance of power in Rivers State.
INEC disclosed that the by-elections will hold concurrently with the Ekiti State governorship election, underscoring what promises to be a politically charged day across several parts of the country.
Beyond Rivers, the electoral body listed other affected constituencies to include Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, Ondo South Senatorial District, and Enugu North Senatorial District.
The vacancies, according to INEC, arose from a combination of deaths, resignation, and other constitutional developments. In Nasarawa, the demise of Senator Godiya Akwashika has left a gap in a district considered a stronghold of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In Enugu, the passing of Senator Okey Ezea has set the stage for a competitive race in the South-East.
Similarly, the Ondo South seat became vacant following the resignation of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, who now serves as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, while the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa seat in Kano opened up after the death of Hon. Muhammad Danjuma Hassan.
Analysts say the Rivers South-East by-election, in particular, could reshape political alignments in the state, as parties jostle to fill the void left by Sen. Mpigi and consolidate their foothold ahead of future electoral contests.
Stakeholder from Bayelsa East Senatorial District, on Monday, endorsed the incumbent Senator representing them to run for a second term.
Leading the stakeholders, the former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Special Adviser to Governor Douye Diri on Political Affairs (iii), Dr Iti Orugbani, said the reason for the endorsement was based on the federal lawmaker’s trajectory of good deeds and massive execution of projects across communities of the Senatorial district.
Dr Orugbani highlighted some of the projects to include landing jetties, telecommunication masts and town halls amongst others, noting that Sen. Agadaga’s performance has exceeded those of others who hitherto represented the oil rich area.
Bayelsa East Senatorial District comprises Ogbia, Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of the State.
The Governor’s aide who called on the State’s Eastern political enclave to respect the 2022 new zoning agreement, which guaranteed second term for Senators from the District, stressed the need for political tolerance and peace in the forthcoming 2027 polls.
“In 2022 the leaders and stakeholders across party lines from Bayelsa East held a meeting and altered the old single term for Senators from the district’s agreement and signed that begining from 2023 any Senator emerging from the district must serve for a minimum of two terms.
“In 2023, Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, then an incumbent Senator representing the Senatorial district under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was given a second term ticket by the party. Though he lost to the PDP.
“Now that the entire state is now APC and the District has an APC Senator in the person of Benson Agadaga from Ogbia LGA, why not also give him a second tenure?
“The stakeholders in 2022 changed the old political agreement because they saw that it wasn’t beneficial to the district any longer. And so, because it was Ogbia Local Government Area that started the old zoning arrangement by producing the first Senator in 1999, I want to plead that let Ogbia also begin the new two terms zoning agreement”, he said.
Also speaking, the duo of woman leader of a support group, ‘Agadema Women’, Mrs. Owadaba Jokori and the Information Officer of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Comrade Ikio, stated that the incumbent Senator has done well for the district in the past three years that he has been in office.
They lauded the federal lawmaker for his infrastructure projects, especially the construction of landing jetties in select communities of the three local government areas of the district, commending stakeholders for supporting the lawmaker in his second term bid.
In his remarks, Senator Agadaga thanked the stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and the endorsements he has received lately from constituents and admirers across political parties.
The lawmaker noted that within the past three years that he has been Senator, he has delivered dividends of democracy to his constituents across the Senatorial District, emphasizing that the call for him to be senator from the Brass Senatorial District came to him as a surprise, noting that he accepted the clarion call when the clamour became so loud.
“I was Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, when various groups from the zone came calling on me to contest the 2023 Senatorial polls.
“Ever since winning the elections as a senator, I’ve continued to deliver on my mandate in both representation, lawmaking, oversight, project execution and support for constituents when called upon. And I shall continue to do more if elected for a second term”, the Senator said.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 15 as deadline for definite hearing in a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
The judge on Monday shifted the hearing date following the absence of the plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chris Uche, SAN, representing Dr Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Mr Uche said, the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Dr Jonathan.
He argued that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit, adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Mr Jideobi, had filed the case seeking an order to restrain Dr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as an aspirant for the 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Dr Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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