No plan to release Al-Mustapha, Lagos govt says

Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Sasore, has denied reported deals with the Presidency for the release of Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to late General Sani Abacha and others who have been in detention over an alleged murder attempt on publisher of The Guardian Newspaper, Chief Alex Ibru.

“There is no deal in whatever form with anyone on this issue. Nobody has pleaded on behalf of Al-Mustapha and his colleagues”, he said.

Sasore spoke in a chat with our correspondent at the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja after the state security meeting Wednesday. He said as far as he knew, there was no deal of any kind between President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Babatunde Fashola on Al-Mustapha’s case.

“There is nothing special about the case. It is a normal prosecution”, he said, adding that due process of law had to be followed.

The Attorney-General stressed that President Goodluck Jonathan had nothing much to contribute to the case, noting that the president was not the prosecutor. “I am not sure that the president or anybody has made any plea on behalf of Al-Mustapha and his colleagues. Nobody is pleading on their behalf and we are not into any deal with anyone,” he said.

Al- Mustapha is standing trial with former Zamfara State Military Administrator, Jibril Bala Yakubu, former Commissioner of Police in Lagos, James Danbaba and others.

In another development, the state government yesterday swore-in seven new state High Court judges to make a total of 56 judges in the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola described the swearing-in as another milestone in the state’s journey to enhance the quality of life of the people  through credible and efficient  administration of justice. He said Lagos judges were always tasked by members of the bar because the most sophisticated legal practice in the country takes place in Lagos.

Fashola stressed the need  to bring more judges on board the state’s judiciary system saying, “if we are not to slide back to the days of court congestion, the capacity of judges per litigant must be increased even as the state continues to pursue automation  and technology to improve efficiency”.