The former Chief Security Officer to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (retd), has revealed that influential Nigerians made him go through a harrowing experience because he was in possession of a “cassettee” on how the undeclared winner of June 12 1993 presidential election, Bashorun MKO Abiola was murdered, against the popular opinion that his travail was because of the murder of the wife of Chief Abiola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.
Al-Mustapha spoke while fielding questions moments after he delivered the Third South-West Annual lecture entitled: Developing Leadership Abilities in Youths, organised by the Asorodayo Youth Heritage Organisation, at Lafia Hotel, Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the former CSO, who was clad in white flowing Agbada with brown Yoruba cap to match, Sergeant Barnabas Jabila Mshelia, also known as Sergeant Rogers, confessed that he was paid to do what he did, adding that he appeared before 14 judges in Lagos State before he was released in 2013.
Mustapha said though he had forgiven all those who had hands in his travails, he owe Nigerians a duty to expose the mystery surrounding the tape.
He noted that Sergeant Rogers was induced with money, houses in choice towns in Nigeria just to frame him and get him hanged. He added that “some lawyers who never attended court session were also paid to grant interview before newsmen just to influence Nigerians’ opinions gainst me.”
He stated that one of those that purportedly persecuted him is currently incapacitated, saying he is the one sponsoring his child’s education.
According to him, “On October 21, 1998, I was arrested because of a video cassette, not because of the late Kudirat Abiola. The family of the late Abiola was, as it is, a very close family to me. But something happened, which a particular camera in the villa captured.
“So, they wanted to take the video tape and burn it so that Nigerians will not know what happened. That was the beginning and cause of my travails.
“Many people, particularly lawyers, took money from those who were looking for the cassette. They would go to radio and television stations to rain abuses on me, rather than coming to court because they were paid to do so. But they did not know what was going on in the court of law.
“I appeared before 14 judges in Lagos. As soon as the matter is about to finish, they would stop it and take us to another court. For 15 years, I was in that state. Out of the 15 years, five years and two months I served in detention with torture. The remaining was between Ikoyi Prisons, Kirikiri Prisons and Jos Prisons.
“On the late Kudirat Abiola, Rogers himself got to confess in a court of law along with other witnesses of how much money they were given, who among the big men in Nigeria told them what to say against me. Then, they were busy writing in newspapers. In Nigeria, it is what the newspapers write that radio and television will talk. All other things are buried, and that is what people in the town will talk.
“For 15 years, I hadn’t the chance to defend myself in newspaper, radio and television. So, the belief was Mustapha has committed an offence, even before my arrest. But the actual thing is what happened to the late MKO Abiola that is in that cassette, that they want to see, that is why Mustapha was subjected to punishment and I was called names.
“They want to know the whereabouts of that tape in the last 17 years. Rogers confessed he was told to do so. He was given money. He was given a house. He was given a car every six month, and he was promised to be taken outside Nigeria.
“The plan was as soon as Lagos court pronounced me guilty and to be hanged, they would rush me to prison and hang me without giving me the option to go for appeal. That was what happened. Then, they revealed exactly what happened and many people got to know.
“Unfortunately, there are lawyers who used to collect money and go to television houses and call me names. But they didn’t know what happened in the court of law.
“I thank God Almighty, everything that happened in Lagos State Court was compiled and signed by all the 14 judges. We are putting it together. My father has already put the book together in three volumes. You will see them soon and know that ‘mumu of this country don do.’
“If they see any rising star, they know how to dump or kill him so that he will not be useful. I will not compromise. If you put a gun on me, I will, call white white, and black black. They called me names. With all the write ups they initiated against me, I said it was okay, they should come and let us face the whole world and tell them what happened. They didn’t come. Anything I say, they are scared to reply; nobody has replied me up till this moment.
“If I am guilty, there is no way I can talk, there is no way I can get the confidence to look into their eyes because they are the bigger ones above the law in Nigeria. I am doing so. I have done it yesterday, I am doing it now and I will, do it tomorrow. If I am dishonest, I can’t do that.
“So, let us get to know the story right and understand the game. The game was for people to pronounce Mustapha guilty. I thank God, those that entered the contract with inducement not to say what they should say in the court of law, later on when the game was exposed, came to the court, crying and exposing what happened.
“That is why the matter is before the Supreme Court now for appeal. We are begging them since 2013 for the matter to be heard so that everybody can hear what happened. Up till, now, Lagos State Government ran away from it. We are begging them to come to the matter. We have nothing to hide. My teaching is that if I am wrong, I will tell you. If I am right, I will tell you.” (Sunday Tribune)