News
Supreme Court Blocks Lagos Govt’s Bid To Retry Al-Mustapha For Kudirat Abiola’s Murder
The Supreme Court on Thursday drew the curtain on the protracted murder case of the late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, rejecting efforts by the Lagos State Government to reopen the prosecution of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd).
In a unanimous ruling, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the state government effectively abandoned its appeal against Al-Mustapha’s acquittal by failing to take any procedural steps for nine years.
Al-Mustapha, who served as Chief Security Officer to former military ruler, General Sani Abacha, had been prosecuted over the killing of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Abiola.
She was assassinated in Lagos on June 4, 1996, during nationwide protests against the annulment of the historic election.
READ ALSO:Supreme Court Dismisses Trial Of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha In Kudirat Abiola’s Murder
Delivering the ruling, Justice Uwani Aba-Aji faulted the Lagos State Government for what she described as an inexcusable failure to pursue its appeal, despite being granted leave by the Supreme Court in 2014 to challenge Al-Mustapha’s acquittal.
When the case was called, Al-Mustapha’s counsel, Mr Paul Daudu, SAN, informed the court that the state government neither filed a notice of appeal nor took any action to comply with the court’s directive more than nine years after the order was made.
Daudu noted that Lagos State had been given 30 days in 2014 to file its appeal but failed to do so, arguing that the prolonged inaction clearly demonstrated a lack of interest in prosecuting the case.
He consequently urged the court to dismiss the appeal on grounds of abandonment.
READ ALSO:Court Sentences 33-year-old To Death For Robbery, Sexual Assault In Cross River
Justice Aba-Aji confirmed that records from the court registrar showed that Lagos State had been duly served with hearing notices but neither appeared in court nor offered any explanation for its absence.
In a brief decision, the panel held that nine years was more than sufficient time for the appellant to regularise its processes, expressing displeasure that the state government neither entered appearance nor communicated with the court, despite being aware of the proceedings since 2020.
As a result, the appeal marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed. A related appeal filed by the Lagos State Government, numbered SC/CR/6/2014, was also struck out for the same reason.
The Supreme Court had earlier, in 2014, granted Lagos State permission to appeal out of time against the July 12, 2013 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha.
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The order, issued by a seven-man panel led by then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, directed the state to file its notice of appeal within 30 days.
That ruling followed the state’s request for additional time to review the case and challenge the Court of Appeal’s conclusion that the evidence against Al-Mustapha was insufficient.
At the trial stage, a Lagos High Court on January 30, 2012, had sentenced Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha and Lateef Shofolahan to death by hanging for conspiracy and murder. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in 2013, citing weak and unreliable evidence, and ordered their release.
News
Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court
The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.
Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.
READ ALSO:Edo NLC Divided Over May Day Celebration
The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.
They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.
The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.
In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.
READ ALSO:JUST IN: NLC Begins Meeting With ASUU, Other Unions Over Strike
The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.
The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.
According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.
However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.
News
Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru
Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.
Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.
READ ALSO:Film Premiere: Edo In Talks With Embassies To Promote Safe Migration —Agazuma
La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.
The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.
He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.
News
Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses
The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.
A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.
READ ALSO:Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria
“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.
“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.
“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.
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