Army forces Al-Mustapha to retire

A former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, has been compulsorily retired from the Army.

Al Mustapha leaving Kirikiri

His compulsory retirement, according to a military source, arose from his unavailability in the Army for a period of over 14 years, while he was away to face trial over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a wife of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

Our correspondent on Wednesday sighted a copy of the retirement letter sent to Al-Mustapha from the Army Headquarters.

Following Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, Al-Mustapha was arrested in October of the same year for the murder of Kudirat, an offence for which he was tried for 14 years.

The Federal Government also pressed other charges which did not succeed against Al-Mustapha during the period.

He was subsequently sentenced to death for Kudirat’s murder by a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on January 30, 2012, but he was discharged and acquitted on July 12, 2013 by a superior judgment of the Court of Appeal in Lagos.

But his letter of compulsory retirement indicated that the Army Council took the decision to force him out of service at its meeting held on August 5, 2013, more than a year after the Court of Appeal acquitted him.

The letter sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday was however dated July 14, 2014 and it put the period the former Head of State’s CSO was in the army at 33 years and 11 days.

It further indicated that the decision of the Army Council to retire him was based on the provisions of Paragraph 09.02(c)(5) of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service for Nigerian Armed Forces 2012 (Revised).

The reason for his compulsory retirement, “undeployability arising from restructuring and/or lack of establishment,” is the fifth in the list of nine conditions as stated in the law which the Army Council can based such a decision on.

The letter with reference number, AHQ MS/G1/300/226, commended him for demonstrating “good conduct in the discharge of your duties” throughout his service in the army.

The letter partly read, “You are authorised to retain your substantive rank of Major. You are also entitled to gratuity and pension as well as Certificate of Military Service and Retired Officers’ Identity Card.

“You are entitled to your ceremonial dress, service dress and mess kit. However, you should wear uniforms corresponding to your rank at the time of retirement only when you are invited for military ceremonies; military weddings; memorial services of National Day celebration and Regimental dinners.”

Army forces Al-Mustapha to retire

Armed soldiers raid Al-Mustapha’s residence

Armed men, believed to be soldiers, Friday evening, raided one of the residences of Major Hamza Al Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha,  located at Durbin Katsina, Kano metropolis, leaving in its wake sordid tales of rights violation and molestation.

Al Mustapha leaving Kirikiri

The heavily armed men, who reportedly came in trucks and  tanks,  allegedly cordoned  several streets leading to the house and seized the occupants who were mostly women and children in an operation that lasted 60 minutes.

Al-Mustapha’s younger brother, identified as Hadi, is also said to be a resident of the house.

Eyewitnesss said the ‘soldiers’ came in trucks and tanks and, immediately they gained entrance into the building, ordered everyone around to lie face flat on ground and, at gunpoint, conducted a thorough search of the building.

“One Abubakar, reportedly  a cousin to Major Al-Mustapha, was maltreated by the troops. He is recuperating at a private hospital, a  witness  recounted.

The eyewitness revealed that  the wife of Hadi, Al Mustapha’s  brother, was  forced, at gunpoint, to conduct the armed men round the expansive building, adding that “the traumatized housewife was immediately taken to a hospital shortly after they left”.

Another source stated: “The invading forces were not friendly, not even the children were spared as the house  was ransacked inside out all in the name of searching for an imaginary cache of arms”.

The source added, “The same treatment was meted to those outside. I heard their leader, a colonel, during a telephone conversation, telling the person at the other end that they had  not found anything incriminating  and  that it seemed  the information (they had) was not accurate”.

Speaking on the development, Hadi disclosed that the family was evaluating the damages done by the men, stressing: “We intend to come up with details of what happened and the action to follow in due course.”

The outgoing military spokesman in Kano State, Captain Ikediche Iweha, while reacting to the story, declared: “ Haba, we don’t  invade houses. If  the story you are telling is correct, then it must be the usual routine checks.

“In any case, give me time to verify the matter and get back to you”.

As at press time the spokesman did not call back. He is on transfer to 3rd Armoured Brigade, Jos.

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Armed soldiers raid Al-Mustapha’s residence

The blood of innocent Nigerians will come after you - Al-Mustapha tells Boko Haram

By Ehi Ekhator -naijacenter

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha has admonished the dreaded Boko Haram sect and their sponsors to desist from their deadly and evil act.

Al Mustapha leaving Kirikiri

Al-Mustapha gave this warning in Orlu, Imo State while speaking at a free skills acquisition and empowerment programme attended by over 3000 unemployed youth during the weekend.

He urged the sect to stop or face the wrath of God and law of the country.

He said “The perpetrators and sponsors of this dastardly act should know that the innocent blood they shed on Nigerian soil will definitely work against them”.

He described the recent massacre of innocent students by Boko Haram in Federal Government College, Buni-Yadi, Yobe State as bad and extreme.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, National Population Commission, NPC, Chief Eze Duruiheoma, SAN, admitted that Nigeria is presently facing a great challenge which, if not properly handled, can disrupt the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians.

His words: “The increasing rate of armed robbery, kidnapping and other serious social vices is no doubt a product of the growing unemployment rate in the country”.

Mr. Duruiheoma revealed that the problem of unemployment in Nigeria is bigger than what the Federal Government can solve alone. He urged patriotic stakeholders to intervene in order to jointly solve the problem of unemployment.

He said:“The provision of employment is one sure way of improving the quality of the population that will complement the laudable goals of the NPC. For an intervention project of this nature, there will be need for accurate and reliable demographic data for planning purposes”. (0)

The blood of innocent Nigerians will come after you - Al-Mustapha tells Boko Haram