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Al-Mustapha’s
family begs FG
sakibu olokojobi
Assistant Editor, Politics
Following his arraignment over the alleged
plot to overthrow the government, the family of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former
Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has
intensified moves to appeal to the federal government to temper justice with
mercy.
But in a swift reaction, Lagos based
lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi said justice should be allowed to take its cause.
The spokesman of the Al-Mustapha
family, Alhaji Hadi Mustapha disclosed the efforts of the family on Friday in a
telephone interview with our correspondent.
Worried by the turn of
event in the trial over breach of security and the danger it posed to the life
of his elder brother, Hadi Al-Mustapha said the family had intesified efforts
to appeal to the president and indeed, the federal government. Although he did
not give details of the efforts he said the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed
Maccido, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. had been contacted.
His words: “The family has
commenced a subtle approach to prevail on the Federal Government to set
Al-Mustapha free. The peace parley being explored by the family has the backing
of prominent Nigerians like the Sultan of Sokoto, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Gen.
Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammed Buhari.”
Making a case for his brother,
Mustapha said the treason charge against
Al-Mustapha could not be true but a grand plot to indict him.
“The issue of coup plotting does not arise at all,” he
said.
He said he did not know his brother
to have any hatred for Obasanjo
and hence could not see any reason for the alleged coup plotting emphasizing
that some enemy were at work, the younger Mustapha said “This is not the
first time they are accusing Mustapha of coup plotting. The same thing happened
in1999 and late Sergent Roger give false evidence against him.”
But in his reaction to the plea for
clemency, Lagos based lawyer, Fawehinmi said he did not understand why the
family was appealing to the government.
According to him, it is only proper
for anyone who in guilty of an offence to be penalized.
“My concern is that if anyone
is guilty of an offence, he should be penalized, he said. Fawehinmi was not
however not opposed to pardon, stressing that there “is provision for it
in the constitution of the country. It is not usual to grant pardon.”
While explaining that he did not
mean to be vengeful Fawehinmi also expressed worry that the Federal Government
was detain Al-Mustapha and others for too long.
“I don’t know the fact
of the case. The only thing that worries me is how a person can be kept for
four years in a democratic system. It is too long. It affect the cause of
justice.
“We are beign told that he was
being tried for treason. I cant understand how that is possible when he was in
detention. It means that the security around him is weak,” said
Fawehinmi.
The human rights activist said the
governments could free itself from a case of victimization only if it quickened the dispensation
of justice.
“The longer the trial lasts,
the stronger the charge of victimization against the government. Giving support
to the government over the trial, another Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo
said the government should present its evidence.
He said, “if the Federal
Government has enough evidence to prosecute Al-Mustapha let them go ahead and I believe that
since it is a proper court of law, he is going to get a fair trial.”
Al-Mustapha and Lt. Col. Mohammed
Ibn Umar Adeka and a civilian, Onwuchekwa Okorie more arranged at a Federal
High Court, Lagos on a two count charge of compiracy and treason.
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