Kudirat Abiola was assassinated on June 4, 1996, along Seven Up road at Oregun, Lagos on her way to attend a function in Lagos Island. She was fighting for the release of her husband from detention and validation of June 12, 1993, election that was presumed to have been won by MKO Abiola.
On the assumption of democratic rule in 1999, some people, including Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military dictator, Hamza, Shofolahan, an aide to Abiola, and others were arrested in connection with the murder.
Their trial started sometime in 2001 when they were arraigned before Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun of Lagos High Court, Ikeja Judicial Division (Justice Kekere-Ekun is now a Justice of the Supreme Court). However, before she could take his plea, Mohammed Abacha’s lawyer, Mr J.B. Daudu SAN entered a no case submission and argued that information filed before the court did not disclose sufficient information against Mohammed, and urged the court to discharge him.
Justice Kekere-Ekun had adjourned to rule on Daudu’s application when the lawyer filed a notice of Appeal before the Court of Appeal, Lagos and got an order of stay of proceedings in the matter before Justice Kekere-Ekun. The case dragged to the Supreme Court headed by Justice Alfa Belgore who ruled that Mohammed Abacha had no case.
However, in his minority judgement, the late Justice Akintola Ejiwunmi disagreed, calling the decision of the majority of the Justices “the tyranny of the majority”. He posited that the right thing to do was to allow Mohammed Abacha to go on trial, where through the rigours of the trial, his innocence or otherwise would be proved.
The trial against Major Al-Mustapha proceeded and lasted until 2012 before he was discharged and acquitted by the court. The Court of Appeal also upheld the decision of the lower court.
The prosecution went through three Attorneys-General- Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN now Vice President of Nigeria, Olashupo Shashore SAN, and Ade Ipaye. The incumbent Attorney-General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem will be the fourth Attorney-General to handle the case.
However, at a ministerial briefing Tuesday, Adeniji told newsmen that the state has reopened the case because the government was not satisfied that justice was done in the matter. He said that government will soon begin the case de novo.
Breakingtimes
KUDIRAT ABIOLA | Lagos State Government reopens murder case
Reviewed by Nene Sochi-Okereke
on
Thursday, 20 April 2017
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