By Adeleke  Adeseri, Innocent Anaba, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu, Gbenga Oke, and Bartholomew Madukwe
LAGOS—Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, who is standing trial for alleged murder of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief M.KO Abiola, yesterday at a Lagos High Court, made further startling revelations in continuation of his assertions that some South West leaders were given money by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar administration to appease them on the death of Chief Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

Following Mustapha’s evidence before the court last Monday where he alleged that some Yoruba leaders were compromised over Abiola’s death, Yoruba elders immediately took him up, challenging him to disclose the names of the beneficiaries.

Taking up the challenge yesterday while continuing his evidence, Major Al-Mustapha mentioned the names of late Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige and late Yoruba leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, both of whom are dead. He even tendered a video tape in court which he urged the court to play to prove his allegations.

Yoruba leaders react

In their reactions however, Yoruba leaders tasked him to name the beneficiaries who are still alive and will be able to defend themselves and not those who are dead.

Late Abiola, Al-Mustapha and Late Abacha

Mustapha in his testimony told the court yesterday that former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar directed the then Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, through a memo he (Abubakar) signed alongside the former National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi to withdraw large sums of money in local and foreign currencies to settle some influential Nigerians, who were compromised on MKO Abiola’s mandate of June 12, 1993.

The money withdrawn were $200 million, 75 million pounds and N500 million.

According to him, Bola Ige was unconsciously used in the alleged murder of Chief Abiola.

He added that prominent Yoruba elders who were not happy with annulment of June 12, 1993 Presidential election visited the Presidential Villa, but after alleged inducement from the released funds, they went home happy and rejoicing.

He said: “When we finished the initial handover, we agreed on a 16-point agenda and one of them was to release MKO Abiola, his mandate in addition to conducting a short transitional programme. But late Chief Ige was drafted in to the Presidency and against our earlier agreement, they refused to release him (Abiola). Those Very Important Persons (VIP’s) came to the presidency to negotiate for the case of Abiola instead of talking of his release. Those who were coming to the Villa delayed his release for a month in order for him to be murdered.

“Whether late Ige was aware or not, I do not know. I wrote him an 11 page letter titled: ‘How you were unconsciously used in the murder of MKO Abiola’. It was because I had known this background and became inquisitive that I was subsequently taken. Another VIP who led delegation to visit the Villa was Pa Abraham Adesanya. I want the inventory of my bags to be returned. The Abdusalami Abubakar government seized everything I had except the clothes I was wearing.”

Mustapha also tendered a VHS video tape labelled “Abraham Adesanya’s visit to the villa” and requested through his lawyer, that the tape be played in the court but the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Dada objected on the ground that the court room was too stuffy and that she could hardly breathe as a result of lack of air condition.

The court, however, said the video tape would be played today at the continuation of the trial.

Al-Mustapha in his testimony further told the court that shortly after the sitting of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission Report (a.k.a Oputa Panel) in Abuja, he wrote an 11-page letter to late Bola Ige entitled “How You (Chief Bola Ige) Were Used in the Murder of Abiola”

He stated that “other personalities were allegedly used through Bola Ige as he was an instrument used to reach other Yoruba leaders to compromise them over the death of Chief Abiola.

“I was separated from Abiola and the late Chief Bola Ige was brought to the Presidency as a liaison to the South West leaders and to bring people against our collective agreement which was to allow Abiola to go home. At this material time monies were disbursed to a number of people negotiating on Abiola rather than allowing him to go home

“I have two tapes which recorded both their (Yoruba leaders) coming into the Villa and their departure. When they came into the Villa to see Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar there were two cameras used, one for the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and the second was our own operated by my body guard attached to the Villa.”

“When they arrived they appeared angry and refused to grant interview but when they were leaving their countenances and statements changed. It was no longer about June 12 and Abiola’s matter, it was now the issue of state security and the need for the country to forge ahead.”

The former CSO also tendered a letter with reference number NSA/320/5 dated July 8, 1998 (a day after Abiola’s death) allegedly written by Major-General Abdullahi Mohammed, the then National Security Adviser, NSA, and approved by the Head of State, General Abubakar directing the CBN to release $200 million, £75 million and N500 million in cash.

The letter which was read in the open court stated that the money was needed following the sudden event of July 7, 1998 (Abiola death) in the country and due to influx of visitors from within and outside the country as well as for administrative purposes”.

He explained on how he got the tape, that “I was still at the Presidential Villa handing over property of the Presidency to the new Head of State. The secretariat where photocopy of the letter was made was the same secretariat that I headed as CSO to Gen. Abacha. I got copies from the memory of the photocopier machine.”

He told the court that the copy of the letter directing the CBN Governor to release the money got to the hands of the proprietor of Abuja Mirror, one Abadina Coomasie, the senior brother to the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomasie, who later died mysteriously.

“The money was brought and off-loaded in my presence; the money was brought to the Head of State in a long brown bag. South West leaders were brought to converge with Gen. Abdulsalami on the murder of Abiola,” he added.

In their reactions yesterday, some Yoruba leaders expressed disbelief, vouching for the integrity of the deceased who he mentioned as beneficiaries, while to some of them, he could be saying the truth afterall.

He is demented —Muyiwa Ige

I have not read the report but it is obvious that the guy is demented. He is barking up the wrong tree. 13yrs later, a man accused of murder is seeking attention. He needs psychiatric attention. He should not be allowed to attempt to rubbish the legacies of distinguished Nigerian statesmen and revered Yoruba leaders that have gone to the great beyond.

Dr Frederick Fasehun

That was what informed my support for the young man. He (Al-Mustapha) told me about those who collected money four years ago and I have since kept it with me. I did not want to disclose this for security reasons and for the unity and peace of Yoruba land. Since he has come out to mention names, I am basing this on what he told and I am sure there are other names involved that he needs to mention.
Chief Olu Falae

It is total disbelief because Pa Abraham Adesanya was our leader and I cannot believe he could collect huge sums of money without telling any one of us. What Al-Mustapha has said is totally out of character because Pa Adesanya lived a prudent life when he was alive. The tradition of our group is that whenever anyone collects money or contracts, he will tell the rest of us. He never mentioned anything about someone giving him any money.

In any case, my own perception is that no one would have the courage to approach anyone of us to give money, it is unthinkable. I know no one would have the courage to approach me to give me money.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

It’s not true, those names cannot be true except he has some evidence to show for his allegations.

Chief Supo Shonibare

I doubt if he said Pa Abraham Adesanya collected any money from General AbdulSalami because I recollect Abdulsalami saying that Pa Adesanya did not use his position for self gain. I also remember Pa Adesanya led a delegation of NADECO chieftains to General Abdulsalami. After the meeting, Pa Adesanya was called back, was offered an envelope which contained money saying it was meant for him to cover his expenses.

But Pa Adesanya said he saw it as an insult to be offered money because he said he could conveniently cater for himself. He said this during his 80th birthday, while he was still alive, I’m sure it was reported. I can tell you that Pa Adesanya and Afenifere did not collect any money from General Abdulsalami. I can vouch for them (Adesanya and Bola Ige). After all, General Abdulsalami is still alive; he should be able to verify this.

Senator Femi Okurounmun

It is unfortunate that Al-Mustapha is mentioning names of Yoruba elders that are dead, why didn’t he mention their names before they died to enable them defend themselves?

Chief Ebenezer Babatope

I know the two people he has mentioned very well. Pa Abraham Adesanya was my in-law, while Bola Ige was also my leader in the progressives. So, I know them very well and can say authoritatively that they could not have done what Mustapha is alleging. They are people I can vouch for. The question I will ask is why is he mentioning the names of those, who are dead?