Military authorities may have barred Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, from further press comments over his detention for almost 15 years in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.
He was detained over the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.
Sunday Mirror investigations revealed yesterday that the former CSO had been handed a warning by the military to stop forthwith further media comments, regarding the issue following his recall into the military.
The last time Al-Mustapha made a
press comment over his detention was last Sunday when he paid a thank-you-visit to Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at the State Government House where he recounted his ordeal in the Kirikiri Prison for the about 15 years he was incarcerated.
Following the declaration by the military that the embattled major was part of the Army, following his freedom, it was gathered that he had been cautioned to stop further media comments until his fate was finally determined by the Defence Headquarters.
We learnt that several efforts recently by both international and local media to extract information from him, via interviews had been rebuffed by the Abacha former henchman, who according to sources close to him had been asked not to make public statements on his detention any longer as military authorities were busy working out issues regarding his fate as a soldier.
Sunday Mirror learnt that Al-Mustapha told some of the media houses that sought to chat with him for the purpose of getting his views on his detention that he could no longer talk to the press on his detention for obvious reasons.
He was however silent on the influence of the military on the development but simply told them that he can no longer grant press interviews.
The former henchman to the erstwhile maximum ruler was released from prison penultimate Friday after about 15 years in detention over the murder of MKO Abiola’s wife, Kudirat and other crimes against humanity.
He arrived in Kano last Sunday and paid a thankyou- visit shortly after to Governor Kwankwaso, religious and traditional leaders in the state for their roles in his freedom. He also visited the graves of his parents who died while he was in detention.
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