It reflects the inadequacy of our justice system to protect the just and vulnerable
The Nigerian criminal justice system was
again ridiculed with the acquittal of Major Hamza al-Mustapha and
Lateef Sofolahan, over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the
acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, after a
14-year trial. The mockery of the judicial system is even more
pronounced as the late Kudirat was clearly murdered in cold blood; yet,
with al-Mustapha’s acquittal, it is as if that fact is a farce. Again,
before this acquittal, some prominent Nigerians were openly campaigning
for al-Mustapha’s release, and attempting to define crime in parochial
terms; even as al-Mustapha’s lawyers filibustered throughout the trial.
It is perhaps even more cynical, that
the court of appeal discharged and acquitted al-Mustapha because the
prosecution could not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, as
required by law. Yet, the same prosecution made a deal with the
self-confessed murderer of Kudirat, Sergeant Rogers, in order to get at
al-Mustapha who he claimed gave the instructions and the ammunition for
the murder. Now, with a deal in the bag for Rogers, and the prosecution
of his alleged master declared insufficient by the court, the result is
that nobody would suffer for the culpable murder of Alhaja Abiola.
