Al-Mustapha’s triumphant comeback

Aliyu Musa

The discharge and acquittal last Friday of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola’s wife, bring to an end a chapter in a trial that was bound to lead to nowhere. But whether it would lead to another inexplicable phase or not is what remains to be seen.

Al-Mustapha’s near endless trial, just like his initial arrest by the government of General Abdulsalami Abubakar on the specious allegation of illegally possessing weapons, is a travesty of justice. But equally a mockery of fairness is the whole plot to punish him at all cost rather than give Alhaja Kudirat and all others he was accused of conspiring to murder justice.

From the outset it was bare that no one was interested in bringing the killer(s) of Alhaja Kudirat to justice. Nor was anyone hoping to make those who murdered Chief Alfred Rewane, or those responsible for the mysteriously death of Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua or made an attempt at Chief Alex Ibru’s life pay for their crimes. The whole process was purely predicated on a blind pursuit of vendetta. Simple. But it could also be argued that al-Mustapha brought upon himself all this.

To start with, Al-Mustapha as the chief security officer to the late General Sani Abacha wielded powers whose enormity was unmistakably incommensurate with his rank in the military.One cannot precisely say how he managed to arrogate himself such influence but in the years the regime was in power (November 1993 to June 1998) he steadily gained notoriety as its most dreaded officer. Whether true or false many regarded (and still regard) him as the hatchet man of the junta, who ordered horrendous crimes against humanity. It was, therefore, not surprising that he was singled out for persecution.

But more mind-boggling was the plot to punish him, which thickened during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, not minding reason, facts, evidence and law. It was this whole intrigue that prolonged (despite many of the adjournments being at the instance of the defence team) and finally bungled the trial. And out of it emerged Al-Mustapha the hero.

It has all along been known that the vendetta successive regimes sought against Al-Mustapha would collapse, but what is more annoying is that it happened after nearly a decade and a half. Not that I personally think he’s innocent of all the charges but letting other accused, particularly a certain Sergeant Barnabas Jabila Mshelia who admitted pulling the trigger, off the hook was exceedingly bizarre. But it would be anoversight to mistake his release as a triumph for justice.

If by this acquittal, basically on some legal technicalities, we jump to the conclusion that it was a vote of innocence we may as well pretend all the atrocities of the regime he was a principal officer were all made up. Yet people cannot be denied their right to celebrate his release or accord him a hero’s reception. It’s a matter of personal decision.

However, the verdict, Justice Rita Pemu’s damning overturning of the lower court’s earlier decision not withstanding, would continue to polarize the country along religious and ethnic divides. In the south-west, Alhaja Abiola’s constituency, it would be regarded as injustice, while the north, which all along felt one of its own was unfairly treated, has delightedly welcomed it and celebrated with fanfare.

In the coming weeks or months, as the country pushes towards 2015, Major Al-Mustapha may find a more ‘seemly’ role to play in regional and national political scheming. And as a man with military background and clout, he could suddenly become a kingmaker (or be made a ‘king’).

And unless he has truly learnt lessons during his ordeal we may see him try to revisit his persecution by default. With all the mysterious deaths, like those of Bola Ige and Marshal Harry, under the regimes that docked him there would be no shortage of enemies to conquer.

Meanwhile as Al-Mustapha enjoys a breath of fresh air outside the confines of prison and a hero’s status let’s remember the millions rotting in jails across the country, many of whom are genuinely innocent but have no one to speak for them; many of whom may never breath the air of freedom again let alone dream of a hero’s welcome.

Postscript:

This article also appears in the Blueprint newspaper of Friday July 19, 2013.