FG accused of frustrating Al-Mustapha, others’ case

Eric Ikhilae, Lagos - 19.03.2008

THE trial of Major Hamza Al-mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of state, General Sani Abacha, and two others over alleged coup plot took a new turn on Tuesday as the prosecuting counsel accused the Federal Government of working to frustrate the case.

Al-Mustapha, Colonel Mohammed Adeka and Onwuchekwa Okorie, a Lagos-based businessman, were in 2004 held over the said plot and have been on trial.

At the resumption of trial on Tuesday, prosecution lawyer, Mr. Oluseye Diyan, told to the court that he was being frustrated by Federal Government agencies in accessing most documents required to prosecute the case.

Particularly, he complained about the refusal of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), Director of Public Prosecutor (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice, Director of State Security Service and Chief of Defence Staff to provide him with the certified true copies (CTC) of statements made by his intended witnesses.

The court, presided over by Justice Dan Abutu, had recently ordered the prosecution to always make available original copies of statements by intended witnesses before they were invited to testify.

According to Mr. Diyan, the DMI, SSS, Chief of Defence Staff and Federal Ministry of Justice were part of the special panel that investigated the mater.

He said the prosecution team had, at the beginning of the trial, requested the said agency to furnish it with all the needed materials, a request, which they had failed to honour till date on the claim that such documents had security implications.