When politics is played with justice

Major Al-Mustapha, who was the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late General Abacha, is being detained alongside the former military administrator of Zamfara State, Colonel Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Lagos State Police Commissioner James Danbaba and the commander of the mobile police squad in the Aso Rock Villa under Abacha, CSP Mohammed Rabo Lawal, […]

Major Al-Mustapha, who was the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late General Abacha, is being detained alongside the former military administrator of Zamfara State, Colonel Jibrin Bala Yakubu, former Lagos State Police Commissioner James Danbaba and the commander of the mobile police squad in the Aso Rock Villa under Abacha, CSP Mohammed Rabo Lawal, are spending more than 12 years in prison over alleged attempted murder charges.
Speculations were rife that the Jonathan administration was contemplating the release of the suspects to mark Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary celebration. In fact, there was a widespread excitement across the country about the possibility of their official pardon. Nigerians waited with bated breath for the independence broadcast by President Jonathan in the expectation that the suspects would be finally released. Unfortunately, his broadcast didn’t mention or talk about their ordeal, thereby dashing the hopes for their release from detention. Keeping any suspect in detention for more than 12 years and for whatever reason is incomprehensible. A government that had no difficulty releasing hundreds of murderous former militants who carried out deliberate killings of the innocent, kidnappings for ransom and economic sabotage will find it hard to justify the continued incarceration of Major Al-Mustapha and other suspects. As rightly argued by former aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, it is mind-boggling to put someone under lock and key and then throw away the keys indefinitely for more than twelve years. In fact, a former Supreme Court justice, Chief Chukwudifu Oputa, also expressed outrage that anyone could be kept in detention for this extraordinary length of time. Their trial is one of the longest and most sluggish in recent memory. And predictably, their ordeal is now rapidly attracting the concern and sympathy of other Nigerians outside northern Nigeria. For example, the former Niger Delta militant leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo and the OPC factional leader, Dr. Frederick Fasheun have both publicly advocated for the release of Major Al-Mustapha and other fellow detainees. According to them, the continued detention of these poor suspects defeats the objective of the current federal government’s policy of national reconciliation and healing as contained in the amnesty programme announced by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
Even though Yar’adua is dead, one doesn’t want to believe that President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to the policy of reconciliation and national healing through amnesty is dead as well. It is not politically expedient to leave the impression of discrimination against certain citizens because they have nobody in government to fight their cause. Indeed, at a time President Jonathan was seeking the support of all Nigerians for his 2011 ambition, the Al-Mustapha issue was a dominant sentiment in the North. Northerners cannot understand why these fellow northern detainees would be treated like orphans at a time the same government was ready to grant amnesty to Niger Delta militants, despite the treasonable nature of their crime, including economic sabotage, kidnapping for ransom and systematic killing of innocent civilians. In fact, at a point, 14 soldiers attached to the Joint Task Force were kidnapped by militants and are now presumed dead.
Yet, despite the gravity of the treason and disappearance of soldiers in the hands of militants, the late Yar’adua administration didn’t hesitate to grant across-the-board amnesty to the insurgents. And today, President Jonathan carries the burden of continuing the policy of reconciliation and national healing. But this policy faces the risk of losing credibility because of the rightly perceived discrimination against Major Al-Mustapha and others. The political nature of their trial is now all too familiar. However, some issues still need to be brought back into the memory of Nigerians. Former President Obasanjo was never and has never been a hero of June 12. He took Major Al-mustapha and co into detention allegedly in connection with the death of late Abiola’s wife, Kudirat. The reality, however, is that he had his private grudges against them because he was convicted for coup plotting in 1995 by the late General Abacha regime.
In the course of the trial, the star witness, in the case, Barnabas Mshelia (a.k.a Sergeant Rogers), told the court that he was approached by two former ministers of justice, the late Bola Ige, Chief Kanu Agabi and the former Lagos State Attorney General, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, who solicited his cooperation to implicate Al-Mustapha and co. Sgt Rogers was the darling of the prosecution until he made these devastating revelations by turning to a hostile witness, thereby throwing the prosecution team in disarray. The case was adjourned for months after this embarrassing incident. What is even more shocking to most Nigerians is the silence of Chief Kanu Agabi and Professor Femi Osinbanjo who are still alive but who, strangely, refused to publicly contradict Sgt Rogers’ allegations. Since this court drama, the case has lost whatever remained of its veneer of credibility.
One has to go to this copious extent to expose the hypocrisy of those who want Al-Mustapha and others dead! Their trial is already tainted with prejudice and politics. However, President Jonathan should not play into the hands of those playing politics with the fate of the suspects who have been detained longer than their alleged offences could have justified. If people who had committed the gravest crimes in the land could be allowed to walk into freedom, the president must intervene decisively to end this dangerous politics with other people’s lives. As the commander-in-chief, he has the prerogative of mercy to grant amnesty to all Nigerians without discrimination. He must distance himself from evil whisperers like Obasanjo and other wicked politicians consumed by sanguinary passion. Our president must demonstrate leadership by being his own man and protect the larger interest of all Nigerians, without anyone being discriminated against.
Achimugu lives at No. 28, Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.E-mail:[email protected]