Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
The trial of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al Mustapha, and three others may be taken to another judge of a Lagos High Court.
The trial of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al Mustapha, and three others may be taken to another judge of a Lagos High Court.
This followed the return of the case file to the Chief Judge, Justice Ade Alabi, by the trial judge, Justice Joseph Oyewole.
Justice Oyewole dropped the hint to the counsel in the matter on Monday at the resumed trial of the accused persons.
He told the counsel that the case file is now with the Chief Judge for his attention and urged parties to await instructions on further development in the matter.
Other accused persons affected by this development in the alleged attempted murder of the publisher of the Guardian Newspaper, Alex Ibru in February, 1996 include one time Commissioner of Police Lagos State, James Danbaba, former Military Administrator of Zamfara State, Col. Jubrin Bala Yakubu, and former Commander of Aso Rock unit of Mobile Police, CSP Rabo Lawal.
Daily Sun investigation revealed that the decision of the trial judge to send the case file to the Chief Judge was not unconnected with separation of the trial of the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Ishaya Bamayi, who was charged along with them.
Ailing Bamayi has been praying the court to separate his trial from other accused persons on the ground that he was ready to face prosecution.
Though, the court refused to accede to his request, the prosecution eventually separated the trial and his trial has since progressed as key prosecution witnesses including Sergeant Barnabas Jabilla (a.k.a Sgt Rogers) and driver to Mohammed Abacha , Abdul Mohammed (a.k.a Katako) among others have completed their testimony.