KUDOS TO LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT FOR HEARKENING TO THE CLARION CALL IN APPEALING AGAINST MAJOR HAMZA AL MUSTAPHA AND LATEEF SHOFOLOHAN ACQUITAL IN THE MURDER OF ALHAJA KUDIRAT ABIOLA

CENTRE FOR RIGHTS AND GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE (CRGI)

             1a Fadeyi Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

Email: centreforrightsgi@gmail.com

                              Telephone: 08078012999, 07033853232

14/08/2013

PRESS STATEMENT

KUDOS TO LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT FOR HEARKENING TO THE CLARION CALL IN APPEALING  AGAINST MAJOR HAMZA AL MUSTAPHA AND LATEEF SHOFOLOHAN ACQUITAL IN THE MURDER OF ALHAJA KUDIRAT ABIOLA

Al Mustapha, not yet uhuru.

The Centre for Rights and Grassroots Initiative (CRGI) wish to use this medium to commend and congratulate wholeheartedly the Lagos State government for its pro people action in hearkening to the clarion call by the suffering masses of Nigeria by appealing to the Supreme court against the acquittal of Major Hamza Al Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan in the murder of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Once again, the Fashola administration has proved its responsiveness and responsibility as a government of the people, by the people and for the people by this dogged pursuit for justice not only in memory of this Amazon but for the generality of Nigerians who bore the brunt of late dictator Sani Abacha terror machine oiled by Major Hamza Al Mustapha.

We cannot but commend the Fashola administration as we recollect how it ensured justice for Miss Uzoma Okere who was brutalized and assaulted by a Naval Admiral, Harry Arogundade and his ratings on a Lagos road only too recently. We also remember how the Lagos state government is pursuing justice for some (4) innocent Nigerians whose fundamental rights were assaulted by the police during the Fuel hike demonstrations of January 9 2012 in Lagos by the DPO Pen Cinema Police station Mr. Segun Fabunmi who is currently standing trial for murdering Mr. Ademola Aderinde and causing grievous body harm to three (3) others in Ogba area of Lagos.

However, we must once again, express our disappointment with the judgement of the court of Appeal which is nothing but a travesty of justice in acquitting Major Al Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan of complicity in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola in the face of overwhelming evidence and logic. Can we ever forget with sadness, the agony and pains that Nigerians were subjected to by the military junta of the dark goggle general in which lives were lost, limbs amputated and persons disappeared without any trace courtesy of the Gestapo on rampage then?

As we look forward to ensuring justice for the society through this appeal, it is our fervent hope that the Justices of the Supreme Court will act in obeisance to their conscience and oath in dispensing justice in this matter in order to consolidate our democracy and build a better society.