15th July, 2013
MADUABUCHI NMERIBEH/Kano
Al-Mustapha was set free by an Appeal Court in Lagos last Friday.
His chartered plane, a Dornier 328, landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, at about 12:05 Sunday amidst tight security provided by the military, police, State Security Service, Civil Defence and the Hisbah Board.
Thousands of supporters, well wishers and family members gathered at the airport to receive him from where his long convoy made straight to Kano state Government House, on a thank you visit to Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for playing a major role in his freedom.
He was accompanied by a leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun. Hamza described him as his ‘father’.
Hamza Al-Mustapha was arrested in 1998 over his alleged involvement in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, MKO Abiola, who also died in the process of reclaiming his mandate.
Al Mustapha wept openly at Kano Government House while recalling his ordeal in detention and told Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso that he was a victim of trump-up charges.
“I must say that even though I lost my father and my mother whom I was forced to see only two times in 15 years—I am their first child, I must say I am their confidant and best friend in my family; and yet, even when the Court forced the then authorities to allow me set eyes on them, the approvals of the Court were flagrantly refused. And I was kept and punished the more, just a ploy to ensure that I don’t set eyes on my parents.
“I saw my father in 2001, and later I saw him in 2007 May; my mother I was allowed to see her in 2001 August, and then I was allowed also to see her after a long battle, despite all instructions from Federal High Court, Lagos, I saw her in 2006 and she died last year, in the month of Ramadan
“Things I went through are things that I cannot sum up anywhere, but all I can say is that yesterday is gone, those who have perpetrated what they did against us have done it in their own deductions, analysis, feelings but to us yesterday is gone. We have drawn a line and we have forgiven them. We are forging ahead to set examples,” he stated.
Hamza who was accompanied to Government House by Mohammed Abacha, the second son of his late boss, further stated that:
“Now, Your Excellency, Mohammed Abacha was charged along with me in 1999, and he got his own freedom in the year 2002. I continued, having suffered a series of allegations, arranged and well scripted by some people, just to continue to keep us on charges that had no basis. We thank God Almighty that we have met justice at the end of the day. But during the travails, members of our families who have suffered degradation, humiliation, who also suffered lots of deliberate plans of mischief, including attempted kidnaps of my children when they were very small; and a lot attempts to take them away, a lot of campaigns of calumny on pages of newspapers and magazines and the rest; but today, we thank God almighty. I can just sum it up to say 15 years after, I can say, with all respect and all praises unto God almighty that it is the liberty and honour restored. Thanks be to God almighty.”
He, however, told the Governor that, “now, Your Excellency, I have found a father—highly dogmatic, a senior citizen of this country, a detribalized elder, an intellectual, a person that is a father indeed with a wide shoulder and a big heart, a man that is very reliable, responsible, dependable, Dr. Fredrick Faseaun.
“He stood by me, having taken time to come to the Court to realize what were going on in the Court of Law and on the other hand, what were being scripted and sponsored on the pages of Newspapers, magazines, television and the radio were different, he now decided to stay on the part of justice and insist that justice must be served. In rainy season, dry season, cold season, he was always in Court.
“I know of the humiliation he served. Your Excellency I must say that I have a father in the South-West and part of this country, that is my own and that is a personality I look on to for vision and guidance and I respect him as a father that can look through issues in this country beyond tribal sentiment, beyond religious issues, he is an asset to the country, and that is why I have anchored upon him as a father with whom we can look into the future together with.”
While receiving the released former convict at the State House, Kwankwaso urged the people of the state to give thanks to Allah for making his release possible after all these years.
“What happened to him is a big lesson not only to the family but to everyone of us; but I give thanks to the Judiciary for this bold verdict. The few times I visited him in prison, I saw the commitment and his faith in Allah, and it was obvious that he would one day regain his freedom and today, that has been actualized; and the government, friends and associates of this great son will pull resources together to ensure his rehabilitation anywhere he chooses to live,” Kwankwaso noted.
The Governor said he was particularly happy that the campaign for Al-Mustapha’s release yielded the desired result.
Dr. Fasheun in his vote of thanks said he was delighted over the development and was overwhelmed by the unprecedented crowd that gathered at the airport to receive them.
“Hamza Al-Mustpha was taken away in 1999 in tattered clothes and in chains under a pitiable situation; but today he has returned a hero, we have always insisted that he was unjustly held. We felt concerned and decided to be part of justice.
“I am happy that after a heavy rain, the sky is good. This is the only country we can call our own. We must eschew mutual hostility, mutual suspicion and build not only a good nation, but a great nation,” he stated.
However, while fielding questions from journalists, Al-Mustapha explained why he visited Prophet T.B. Joshua immediately after his release from detention, insisting that his visit to the Prophet was based on his personal relationship with him.
He said he would await the decision of the authorities on his status in the army.
He also visited the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero who said he was happy to be part of Hamza Al-Mustapha’s freedom.
From Emir’s Palace, he made striaght to Kofar Manzugal to pay homage to the late parents at a burial ground where they were interred.