By Olasunkanmi Akoni, Wahab Abdulah & Monsur Olowoopejo

LAGOS – THE Solicitor General of Lagos State, Mr. Pedro Lawal, SAN, has absolved the state government of any blame in the delayed trial of the detained former Chief Security Officer,  to the late Gen Sanni Abacha, Major Hamzat Al-Mustapha, blaming the delay on the defence counsel.

Pedro,  explained that not until the prosecutors, the defence and the judge in the case cooperate, it would be difficult for Al-Mustapha to get a speedy trial.

Pedro stated this on  while fielding questions from State House correspondents during a press briefing on activities of the Ministry of Justice in the last one year.

According to Pedro, Al-Mustapha’s case would have ended in 1999 when he was arraigned in court but for the accused persons, who kept bringing different applications to delay the proceedings.

He repeatedly stated that the prosecutor was not responsible for Al-Mustapha’s continuous stay in prison but the defence team.