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SPECIAL REPORT
Abacha's henchman al-Mustapha sings briefly about "Abubakar-Diya Coup" plot, the killing of Abiola, NADECO and other issues
Special to USAfricaonline.com
NigeriaCentral.com
USAfrica The Newspaper
Following a joint petition and request for summon by a joint
petition submitted by the late Alhaji M.K.O Abiola's first son, Kola
and his physician, Dr. Ore Falomo on the death of the man widely
believed to have won the June 12, 1993 presidential election in
Nigeria. 
Major
Hamza al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late
dictator Gen. Sani Abacha has made significant and controversial
claims on November 27, 2000 to the Justice Oputa-led Human Rights
Violations Investigation Commission. He made controversial comments
and allegations regarding the roles of Nigeria's former ruler Gen.
Abdulsalami Abubakar (he handed over to retired Gen. Olusegun
Obasanjo in May 1999). Falomo charges that Abubakar should be held
responsible for Abiola's death since it happened under his watch and
there was much to be desired).
The
terroristic Abacha henchman al-Mustapha cited former Chief of General
Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya , retired Gen. Abubakar, Rear Admiral
Allison Madueke and former Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Chris Ali
for, allegedly, planning an unexecuted "coup" against their then boss
Abacha (in uniform, right) in 1994. He referred variously to the
abuse of power by some officers, expressed concern for his life and
family's interests, the June 12 crises and other related issues
concerning the death/murder of Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola.
Al-Mustapha 's testimony was led by his counsel, attorney Amobi Nzelu. Here are excerpts:
Counsel: Major Al-Mustapha, look at the security around yourself and what has been happening to your family, what do you have to say about that?
Commission Chairman: Counsel, if you have any papers to tender, you can do so and then ask him questions on them. We can only deliberate on what is before us.
Al-Mustapha: Before I say anything, I want to reaffirm my earlier determination to say everything I know. The issue of fear has nothing to do with what I read, I am here to do justice to all the questions that I am asked. However, I am privileged to receive my relations in Kirikiri where I am detained who gave me news of threat to my parents. I learnt I am to be shot here today. For two years there has been no real threat to me or my family. I even told the police while we were coming here that I would see how prepared you are about my security. But whoever is afraid that I will speak today whether military or civilian, you can try it.
And if you are in this hall, I challenge you to shoot me because I expect a bullet while I speak. I don't fear it. To those who are really afraid by their wisdom, they created this commission, and by their wisdom, they summoned me to appear here and speak, but they are now afraid. The matter today is very serious. I have read thepetition of Mr. Kola Abiola and Dr. Ore Falomo, I have listened to the oral testimony of Dr. Ore Falomo but the question is, is Mustapha a doctor? No! I am, however, concerned about the lives of members of my family. To me, I have no problem. When they arrested me for coup in 1998, I was expected to die. I attach very much importance to my parents and our family. I cannot come here and talk and in the process sacrifice my family. This matter is one of the exceptional security matters. I will therefore urge the commission to allow me speak in camera.
Commission Chairman: The issue of security matter should not just be divulged in the open like that. It is not peculiar to Nigeria alone but it's like that all over the world. But such applications cannot come from you. It is your counsel who can make that application on your behalf.
Counsel: What is your reaction to what has been said about you concerning Abiola's death.
Al-Mustapha: I read the petition of Dr. Ore Falomo and Kola Abiola and listened to Dr. Falomo this morning. But before I say anything, I would like to make one remark, the fact that Chief Abiola died does not mean I should take advantage of it because he is no longer here to respond to it. The same thing with Gen. Abacha. At this juncture, I will like to ask the commission on my request about my bags, which were seized. 13 Ghana-must-go bags containing vital documents which are needed in this case. I asked the commission to help me retrieve them.
Commission Chairman: Commission counsel, have you received the bags.
Commission's counsel: My Lord, we sent summons to the respondents in respect of his request but there have been no response.
Al-Mustapha: Talking about Abiola, first my relationship with him. I knew Chief Abiola through Gen. Sani Abacha in early 80s. I was then in the Office of the Chief of General Staff. My relationship with him was very, very cordial until the time he died.
In November 1993 before Gen. Abacha came to power, Chief Abiola just returned from the USA in the evening and we met outside the Defence House, Lagos. He came to see the late Head of State. They discussed through late hours. The meeting was facilitated by me but I was not privy to their discussions. I believe it was in the spirit of June 12. While ING was on, i.e when Chief Ernest Shonekan was in power, discussions and negotiations took place between representatives of late Chief Abiola and representatives of late Gen. Abacha. In Gen. Abacha's government, there were people considered to be in his kitchen cabinet. At the meetings, there were those on behalf of Chief Abiola and those on the side of Gen. Abacha. On Chief Abiola's side I can recall Air Commodore Dan Suleiman, I can recall Prof. Akinyemi. Maj.-Gen. Adebayo (rtd.) will throw more light on this. Brig.-Gen. Abdulahi Ahmed (rtd.) and Brig.-Gen. M. C. Alli (rtd) can also throw more light on the negotiations. Now to be specific, when Abacha came to power one thing was clear that those who held discussions with Gen. Abacha on behalf of Chief Abiola became disappointed. This disappointment arose when Gen. Abacha did not accept them in his cabinet and this was the cause of the disagreement. They then declared themselves opposition to the Abacha's government. They should have a big heart to admit this. This opposition became NADECO. They led Chief Abiola to declare himself President-elect of Nigeria. Problems arose for declaring himself President-elect of Nigeria which brought one major issue from the police, who arrested him and why. I have here something to show the commission. It's a letter dated June 27, 1994 addressed to the Chief of General Staff by Deputy Inspector-General of Police A. Nkana which was copied to the then Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie seeking a detention order for Chief Abiola, the place of detention and the date of detention to be effective June 23, 1994.
(He then read the letter which stated that following the annulment of June 12 election, it was obvious that the ING can no longer cope with the endless threat to the security of the nation and it is therefore necessary to hand over to Gen. Abacha who will return the country to a democratic rule in a more sound and convincing ground. All the pro-democracy groups and the dissolved National Assembly have conspired to continue to proclaim June 12 to discredit the military government and ridicule government functionaries. Dr. Ransome-Kuti has also been arrested under the same decree and six out of the 21 senators have been charged to court. While all this was going on, Chief Abiola increased the tension so that he should be proclaimed the President. He deserted his house but on June 23, 1994 he was arrested and taken to Alagbon for questioning. We were therefore requesting for power to keep him for six weeks.)
After reading the letter, Al-Mustapha continued his testimony:
Three days after, Alhaji Coomassie initiated another letter to the Head of State requesting another detention order. Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie will clarify to this commission when he appears here.
Counsel: Thereafter what happened?
Al-Mustapha: Thereafter just like the petitioner himself, I heard that Chief Abiola was taken to several police stations and prisons.
Counsel: Should this have been so?
Al-Mustapha: Contrary to my personal thinking it should not have been so. This is left for the police to speak about. On the confiscation of his property, I knew nothing about it.
Counsel: Did you attend any meeting where it was directed that Chief Abiola's property should be confiscated?
Al-Mustapha: I did not attend any meeting where it was discussed that Chief Abiola's property should be confiscated.
Counsel: What is your role in Chief Abiola's death?
Al-Mustapha: The issue of Chief Abiola's security is the beginning. In 1994 there were several attempts to abduct or kidnap Chief Abiola by both civilians and military. First it was civilians that staged it. When I discovered that they were serious about it, I requested the FCT Police Command for helping hands to protect him.
There were attempts to buy SSS operatives to know the location and the commanders of those who were guarding him. Olu Akerele, I learnt sent his petition before this commission but later withdrew it. Olu Akerele gave $250,000 to an SSS operative working in the villa who was later dismissed and punished legally. Akerele also approached CSP Rabo Lawal through a policeman to bribe him so that Abiola could be abducted. The SSS should submit their report on this to this commission. While Akerele was doing all this, he entered the restricted area at the Presidential Villa at 4.30 a.m. He found his way through. There was a standing order by the Brigade of Guards that anybody found in a restricted area within the villa should be shot on sight.
Even today as President Obasanjo is at the villa, if anyone intrudes into the restricted area he will be shot on sight. But I did not allow Akerele to be shot on sight. When he was brought to my office, I instructed that he should be taken to the police station. It was announced that he was not shot and beaten him up when they got outside before being taken to the police station. Rather than Akerele coming to thank me for saving his life, he is now sponsoring malicious publications against me. Second example, in 1994 there was a coup plan using Abiola as a shield. Former Chief of General Staff, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diya was at the helm of it. Gen. Diya's coup started from 1994. His desire to overthrow Abacha started in 1994 at the Officers Mess, Wuse, Abuja.
When these plans were on and it became obvious that he wanted to execute his coup, he used his boys to trace the detention point of Chief Abiola. It was on the morning of the ECOWAS meeting. On the same evening, Gen. Diya placed the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory under house arrest for not getting Abiola abducted. At this time Alhaji Coomassie ran away to hide. The Inspector-General of Police whom I relied upon to give me a helping hand was nowhere to be found. I then faced a difficult situation here whether to allow Chief Abiola remain with the police. When you have a crisis in your hand, you should never allow it show on your face rather your action should inspire confidence in your subordinates. Chief Abiola was then moved to the Guest House of the Secretary to the Government. In Lagos, there were others who were to support Gen. Diya's mission. Gen. Abacha called all of them to a meeting which they did not attend. Now on threat to Chief Abiola's safety. As a result of this silent coup service chiefs were retired. This exercise affected Daggash. General Abacha out of his magnanimity called all of them and told them we have to unite and build together in order to achieve our mission.
Rather than announce the coup, they were retired. Others were dismissed General Abdulsalami and Lt. General Oladipo Diya were cautioned and pardoned but they were placed under surveillance. From this point the journey may be rough. I will speak more on this from now on. But I am requesting to talk to the commission in camera on the topic which my lord corrected my counsel earlier on."
After brief deliberation on that request Commission chairman Justice Oputa said to the surprise of many that "In every country the issue of security is very sensitive. The names of the officers involved are not divulged, you only hear them you don't see them. Such issues are taken in camera, it is customary to do it in camera and Nigeria can not be an exception."
On the other hand, Reverend Father Kukah, a member of the commission, noted that "it was late Dele Giwa (assassinated former editor-in-chief of Nigeria's NewsWatch magazine) who put it very well that it is the duty of the government to keep secrets and it is the duty of journalists to find the secrets. it is not automatic that once a witness says a piece of information should be given in camera and it will be taken like that. We shall consider the facts and the interest of Nigerians to know the truth. We shall weigh everything. The public should therefore trust us."
Retired General Diya is scheduled to appear on December 6, 2000.
The petition on behalf of Chief MKO Abiola by Dr. Olu Falomo, personal physician the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, and Abiola's son, Kola:
"Chief M.K.O. Abiola was the presidential flagbearer of the Social Demcoratic Party in an election held in Nigeria on June 12, 1993. After the election, the results convincingly showed that he won.
"But the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida annulled the election results on June 26, 1993 to the chagrin of Chief M.K.O. Abiola. "Following the cancellation of the election results, Chief Abiola felt the development was a great injustice to him and the entire Nigerians that gave him the mandate. He therefore protested.
"This development galvanized the power-that-be to cordon off his residence in Ikeja on June 8, 1994 by security personnel with all the members of his family held under house arrest.
"Although he was in his Ikeja residence when the security men came, he disguised and escaped through the back door.
"Later, he declared himself as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a development which made the Federal Government to declare him wanted with prize put on his head.
"He went into hiding after declaring himself president but on June 23, he resurfaced again and was arrested at his residence by heavily armed combined team of security men from the police and the SSS without any warrant.
"His arrest without warrant was potently illegal anyway but he was taken to Gasua police station in Yobe, Damaturu police post, Kuje police station in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and later to Bwari in the FCT in an unmarked bungalow. He was also detained in Gada Nasco Barracks in Abuja.
"Sometimes in 1994, his newspaper outfit, Concord Press was sealed off and all Concord titles - National Concord, Weekend Concord, Sunday Concord and others were subsequently proscribed.
"Also in 1994, his bookshop at Lagos was invaded and sealed up by late General Abacha.
"His exploration oil licence was revoked, his oil lifting licence was concealed, his air operating licence of Concord Airline was also revoked.
"Ditto with all his radio communciation contracts with the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Army. They were both concealed while all payments due to him in respect of services already rendered were denied him.
"Consequently, his arrest and detention was challenged at the Federal High Court, Lagos during which the trial judge that sat on the matter, Justice A. Jinadu declared his detention as unlawful and ordered a substantial cost against the Federal Military Government.
"But the then government of General Abacha did not obey the order.
"Also, the shut Concord Press separately filed an action in court to challenge the Federal Government's action and the judge ordered the reopening of the shut premises. But the order was also not obeyed.
"In a separate action before a federal high court, it was also ordered that Chief MKO Abiola be physically produced, the order was equally not complied with.
"However, later in 1994, he was charged for a bogus offence of treasonable felony in Abuja whereon they employed all possible legal gymnastics to ensure that his trial was delayed.
"But while in their custody, an application for his bail was filed on his behalf. The request was granted but the government refused to release him.
"Chief M.K.O. Abiola suffered grievous human rights violations in various cells and prisons for four years before he was killed.
"For instance, at Gasua, Damaturu and all other detention centres, he was exposed to cruel and despicable conditions.
"All through, he was kept in solitary confinement infested with mosquitoes and cockroaches for 24 hours daily. No visitor was allowed to see him even including his family.
"Also, he was denied all forms of communication to the outside world as he was not allowed to read newspapers, listen to radio, watch television or accessed to telephone facilities. He was only allowed to read Quran and Bible.
"Besides, he was not allowed wrist watch, and calendar, a development which led to his loss of time and memory.
Chief M.K.O. Abiola fell down at least on four different occasions while he was being moved from one detention centre to another.
"Since the age of 16, Chief M.K.O. had been using warm water to bath but this he was denied while in their custody despite warning.
"Occasionally though, I was allowed to see him, yet all conversations between us were not only made to be in public but also recorded.
"At this juncture, it is pertinent to include that Major Hamza Al-Mustapha determined when and how he was to visit Chief M.K.O. He personally took absolute control over his detention.
"I can recall that on August 24, 1994, one Lawal Kazeem flung Chief against a pillar. He was severely injured and taken to the clinic where his x-ray was taken and his spine was discovered affected. In fact, he couldn't walk.
"Initially though, the Federal Government allowed that he should be taken abroad for treatment over this and his heart problem which according to medical reports had doubled its normal size but the doctor of evil, Dr. Yakassai and Major Mustapha went against the decision. "When his health situation worsened and he could hardly stand, at a time blood started emerging from his urine.
"It was this development that made me to summon a team of doctors including the then president of NMA Dr. Oye Adeniran to examine Chief M.K.O. He was really examined but he was denied medical follow-up.
"In 1996, there were fewer occasions for medical visitation. I myself was allowed to see him last for such on May 10, 1997. That time, the air conditioner in his room was faulty, the light in the room was bad, affecting his eyes, his clothes were not washed and he in fact developed eczema and pneumonia.
"He also lost weight and this was confirmed by visiting Archbishop Desmond Tutu who called on him in prison. Tutu then had said that Chief MKO had shed about 40kg weight. He pleaded with the government that he should be taken to South Africa for medical attention.
"But when he was not allowed access to doctors, he started medicating himself and the result was disastrous. His plight worsened when on April 22, 1998, he fell down in his bath, knocked his head against the tub and broke his ankles which became swollen. Even when he reported, they thought he was pretending.
"This was the situation until June 7, 1998 when he paid the supreme price. He died in the hands of the Federal Government. We believe he was assassinated by the military junta even when we knew no one could have survived the inhuman treatment he was subjected to over four years.
"For instance, the autopsy conducted on his remains showed that he was not fed for over 8 hours before his death, he was not allowed access to his usual drugs prescribed for him in England for the treatment of his hypertension and his heart which had enlarged twice its normal size while his feeding generally was regimented.
"He had no control over what he ate and who prepared it, a deliberate ploy to subject him to break down psychologically, spiritually so as to kill him slowly.
"Even before his death, he had asked based on his health condition for pain relieving tablets and cough syrup. We want this commission to find out who prescribed those drugs and where they came from.
"His last meal was tea which he took on the day of his untimely death, we want the commission to find out whether he was the only one who asked for it and took the tea alone and how the tea was even made for him and by whom?
"We also want to know that medical doctor that took over from me to dispense medication on late Chief M.K.O. Although, we now know the doctor. He is doctor of evil, Dr Yakassai.
"But by and large, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar was responsible for Chief M.K.O.'s murder.
"Based on the foregoing, we ask for full compensation for the deceased's.
(Additional summations/reports) from Dr. Falomo:
"We are ready to provide all necessary assistance to this commission including documentary reports on the late politician before his death....
the doctor of evil, Dr. Yakassai who was a gynecologist and obstetrician was mandated to treat Chief MKO Abiola of his cardiology problem. He was not allowed to be attended to by professional cardiologist, or neurologist. He was given the leader of strike force to do a special job on him...
...no decision was taken without the knowledge of Al-Mustapha."
...even as close as I was to late Gen. Abacha as his personal doctor, I still had to go through Mustapha before I could see Gen. Abacha. Mustapha was very powerful on the late Gen. Abacha's administration."
"The State Security Service (SSS) men were involved in detaining him but not in their cell.... SSS were present everywhere. They were involved. It could be possible that they could be cooking his food. SSS are the Gestapo of Nigerians."
(On April 24, 1995, a commissioner of police, FCT Abuja, one Mohammed Yusuf phoned Falomo to "inform" him that late Gen. Abacha asked him to come to Abuja). "But when I got to Abuja, I could not see Gen. Abacha but was told that I was under arrest. No warrant was produced to that effect. Two security men came from the Aso Rock who led me into a solitary confinement. I was kept in a room. But that day, there was a heavy down pour and the room was flooded with water, about two inches deep.
"Later I was taken to the police in Abuja and subsequently, the National Security Adviser to the late Head of State, Alhaji Ismaila Gwanzo ordered my detention under Decree 2. All through, I was deprived all forms of refreshments.
"While in detention, my high blood pressure became worse, psychologically depressed, lost my potential patients who ran away because of the fear that I could be arrested again and that I might not have tine for them.
"Consequently, I am asking for the indictment and prosecution of all those that arrested me, a refund of all money I expended, while in prison, professional fees of all the four-year medical services I rendered to Chief MKO Abiola while in detention because if he were still alive, he would have paid me.... when (al-Mustapha comes on Thursday November 30, he would explain the roles he played in my arrest and detention."
Falomo: Yes. I treated Gen. Abacha and Mustapha. They are all my patients.
Falana: During the time you were not allowed to treat Chief Abiola, who treated him?
Falomo: Up to about a month to his death, he was treated by Yakassai.
Falana: Is Yakubu a heart specialist?
Falomo: No. He is a gynaecologist and obsterician. (Justice Oputa cut in to ask) Was Abiola pregnant? (panelists and audience broke started to laugh at the deliberate, provocative humor)
Falana: So in one word, Chief Abiola was not attended to by a specialist.
Falomo: No instead, he was given the Head of Strike Force who was doing another thing.
Falana: That is all for this petitioner.
Nzelu Amobi counsel to Al-Mustapha took over the questioning. Excerpts:
Amobi: You spoke about the National Concord and other economic problems. Was Al-Mustapha involved in revoking of oil licence as well?
Falomo: Well, I do not expect him to be involved but... But I was close to Gen. Abacha and Al-Mustapha to know that it could not happen without Mustapha's knowledge.
Amobi: So, Abiola's treatment overseas was overturned?
Falomo: After my medical opinion on the overseas medical trip, it was the government position to enable him to go. That was why I stayed in NOGA NICON Hotel for four days to write a report for his treatment abroad. Why it was not carried out was the arrival of that doctor of evil who wrote another medical report. The report he wrote was passed to the Head of State through Al-Mustapha. Afterall, Yakassai himself said this in an interview with Source magazine. Yakassi had no direct contact with the Head of State, but Al-Mustapha. He (Mustapha) could have stopped the report if he wanted. Abacha and Mustapha were one while Gwarzo and Coomassie were inconsequential.
Amobi: The letters from Yakassai to the Head of State merely passed through Mustapha as a bus stop.
Falomo: I don't know what you mean by last bus stop (laughter)
Amobi: Has Mustapha the permission to stop such letters?
Falomo: He has the power to stop it. Ask Mustapha whether the letter passed through him or not.
Amobi: You mentioned N800,000.00 as maintenance allowance on Abiola. How does this concern Mustapha?
Falomo: Mustapha said so, and I believe him.
|
These views were
stated during an interview CNN's anchor Bernard Shaw and
senior analyst Jeff Greenfield had with Mr. Nwangwu on
Saturday November 18, 2000 during a special edition of
'Inside Politics 2000.' |
 Nelson Mandela, Tribute to the world's political superstar and Lion of Africa Martin Luther King's legacy, Jews and Black History Month  ELECTIONSGigolos on the Campaign Trail. By Prof. Walt Brasch Johnnie Cochran will soon learn that defending Abacha's loot is not as simple as his O.J Simpson's case. By Chido Nwangwu |
CONTINENTAL
AGENDA
he
said that "Africa will not be an area of priority" in his
presidency has been questioned by
USAfricaonline.com Publisher Chido
Nwangwu. He added that Bush's "pre-election position was
neither validated by the economic exchanges nor
geo-strategic interests of our two continents." 
Morrison,
Soyinka, Thelwell, world's leading arts scholars in New York
in November at Bard College.
