Unhappy with the acquittal of the Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and an aide to the MKO Abiola family, Alhaji Lateef Shofolahan over the 1996 murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late business mogul, the Lagos State government has instituted an appeal at the Supreme Court, against the decision of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal sitting in Igbosere, which acquitted and discharged him.
Giving the hint in Lagos, the state Attorney General (AG) and Justice Commissioner, Ade Ipaye, explained that the decision to appeal the appellate court’s judgement on the duo was as a result of the fact that there were enough and strong grounds of appeal.
Ipaye who spoke at a media briefing on Law and Order in the state, however refused to disclose the grounds of appeal..
He noted that, “Having carefully reviewed the decisions of the respected justices of the Court of Appeal, it is our humble view, that there are strong bases for appeal which the Supreme Court of Nigeria should have an opportunity to consider.”
“This step will also ensure that all issues are fully articulated, and the victim’s family, the defendants and the society are not deprived of the last window of opportunity provided by the Constitution for the resolution of the case.”
Ipaye also used the opportunity to refute reports compiled by both the Amnesty International (AI) and Social and Economic Rights Action Centre on the alleged forceful eviction of Ijora-Badia residents, stating the state government’s resolve to see to the welfare of residents in the state including protection of their rights.
“Illegal settlements, unapproved building and unsanitary conditions cannot be justified as these may end up in painful evictions or demolitions,” Ipaye added.
