Al-Mustapha: Parties adopt written addresses today

Written addresses are expected to be adopted today by parties in the ongoing trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer(CSO) to the late General Sani Abacha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan, over their alleged conspiracy in the killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court fixed today for the adoption of written addresses after the second accused person, Alhaji Shofolahan, concluded his testimonies on August 17, 2011.The judge had on July 14, 2011, ordered Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan, to open their defence in the trial after she dismissed their no case submissions.In a ruling on a no case submission filed on their behalf by their counsel, Justice Dada ruled that the duo needed to explain what they knew about the allegations levelled against them by the Lagos State Government.In his testimonies during the last proceedings, the second accused person, Alhaji Shofolahan, informed the court that he learnt about the death of Alhaja Abiola just like any other person because it was a national issue.While giving his evidence as the second defence witness in the case, Shofolahan insisted that he didn't know whether she was shot dead or not.He told the court that he did not attend Alhaja Abiola's funeral because area boys took over the whole of Ikeja at the time.Shofolahan, while responding to a question from the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, on whether or not he knew the late Abiola he said, 'I knew her when we campaigned at HOPE 93. She usually came in company of Doyin Abiola and Bisi Abiola for campaign materials. I never worked with her. I was never her personal assistant or driver. Nobody from Abiola's house can come and testify that I worked for her.'Speaking on the allegation of conspiracy in the murder of Alhaja Abiola, Shofolahan said, 'I didn't conspire with anybody my Lord and I didn't kill anybody. All these allegations, I don't know where they came from. May be, my family has committed any offence before and it is now my turn to suffer.
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