Al-Mustapha: Court fixes Jan 30 for hearing

Justice Mojisola Dadaof a Lagos High Court,on Thursday, fixedJanuary 30, 2012, as the date to deliver judgment on the conspiracy to murder and murder charge, preferred against Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late General Sani Abacha and Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan by the Lagos State Government.The date was fixed by the judge after counsels in the matter argued and adopted their written addresses.In his submissions, the defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, urged the court to commit the credibility of all the prosecution witnesses to scrutiny having been dented by numerous contradictions.Ojo argued that the star prosecution witnesses in the case lacked credibility. He said that in related cases before the Lagos High Court, different judges had held that the two star prosecution witnesses, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila, popularly called Rogers and Mohammed Abdul also known as Katako lacked credibility.He said the inconsistencies in the testimonies of Rogers and Katako had proved that the case of the prosecution was weak.He then urged the court to acquit and discharge the defendants accordingly.In his own submissions, the prosecution's counsel, Lawal Pedro, urged the court to take judicial notice of the reign of terror while the late General Abacha held sway as head of state and commander in chief.Pedro emphasised that there was enough circumstantial evidence linking the accused persons to the commission of conspiracy and murder."My lord, the prosecution has succeeded in proving a case of conspiracy to murder and murder of the late Kudirat Abiola against the defendants. I urge your lordship to convict them accordingly," he said.
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