Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the late Nigerian tyrant, General Sani Abacha wept in Kano Government House Sunday as he relived his 15 year spell in Kirikiri Prison in Lagos. Al-Mustapha was set free by an Appeal Court in Lagos last Friday.
His chartered plane, a Dornier 328, landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, at about 12:05 Sunday amidst tight security provided by the military, police, State Security Service, Civil Defence and the Hisbah Board.
Thousands of supporters, well wishers and family members gathered at the airport to receive him from where his long convoy made straight to Kano state Government House, on a thank you visit to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for playing a major role in his freedom.
He was accompanied by a leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun. Hamza described him as his ‘father’.
Hamza Al-Mustapha was arrested in 1998 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, who also died in the process of reclaiming his mandate. Al Mustapha wept openly at Kano Government House while recalling his ordeal in detention and told Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that he was a victim of trump-up charges.
“I must say that even though I lost my father and my mother whom I was forced to see only two times in 15 years—I am their first child, I must say I am their confidant and best friend in my family; and yet, even when the Court forced the then authorities to allow me set eyes on them, the approvals of the Court were flagrantly refused. And I was kept and punished the more, just a ploy to ensure that I don’t set eyes on my parents.
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