Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Wednesday continued his testimony before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, with a revelation that the late Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige , SAN , and late Afenifere leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya knew how the acclaimed winner of the June 12 , 1993 Presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola , was murdered. Al-Mustapha, in his evidence-in-chief before Justice Mojisola Dada also disclosed that Adesanya led Yoruba leaders to the Presidential Villa in Abuja to meet the then Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, in order to douse the tension generated by the death of Abiola. The former CSO, who is standing trial over alleged complicity in the murder of Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, added that though the Yoruba leaders were unconsciously used in the alleged murder of Abiola, they however kept quiet when they realised that they had been used. He tendered a VHS video tape labelled “Abraham Adesanya’s Visit to the Villa” and requested through his lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, that the tape be played in the court but the trial Judge objected on the ground that the court room was too stuffy and that she could hardly breathe as a result of lack of air conditioner. The judge however said the video tape would be played Thursday at the continuation of the trial. Al-Mustapha in his testimony also told the court that shortly after the sitting of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission Report (aka Oputa Panel) in Abuja , he wrote an 11-page letter to Ige entitled “How You (Chief Bola Ige) Was Used in the Murder of Abiola” “I was separated from Abiola and the late Chief Bola Ige was brought to the Presidency as a liaison to the South West leaders and to bring people against our collective agreement which was to allow Abiola to go home. At this material time monies were disbursed to a number of people negotiating on Abiola rather than allowing him to go home “I have two tapes which recorded both their (Yoruba leaders) coming into the Villa and their departure. When they came into the Villa to see Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. There were two cameras used, one for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the second was my own operated by my body guard attached to the Villa. “When they arrived they appeared angry and refused to grant interview but when they were leaving their countenance and statements changed. It was no longer about June 12 and Abiola’s matter, it was now the issue of state security and the need for the country to forge ahead. “I was in the Presidency and was in the process of handling over to the new Chief Security Officer on one hand and with Abdulsalami on the other hand. I was briefing General Abdulsalami on issues of national security. I also drafted a 16-point agenda with Abdulsalami. Part of the agenda was Chief Abiola’s release from detention and short transition programme. “Along the line, I was asked to hand over issues about Chief Abiola to late Chief Bola Ige. He (Ige) was appointed as a liaison officer between the Presidency and the South West. Chief Ige continued to bring South West leaders to the Presidency against our initial plan to let M.K.O Abiola go home or to be given his mandate within a short time. “After the death of Abiola and during one of the visits by the Yoruba leaders to Aso Rock. This particular visit was led by Chief Abraham Adesanya. When they got to the Villa, they were visibly angry, annoyed and mad and refused to speak to the press men within the Villa. “But when they were leaving, their comments were totally the reverse from the situation on ground in the country. They were very happy while leaving! The reaction and comments by late Pa Abraham Adesanya on the situation in the country at that particular time clearly puts June 12 issue as secondary and they were saying that no matter what, the country must forge ahead. “There were two cameras that captured the visit; one was for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), while the other one was for me. I stationed and instructed my bodyguard to capture the whole thing. “That was one of the major reasons why Abdulsalami had to seize everything I had including documents, tapes and even my shoes. “Whether Chief Bola Ige knew that he was used to murder Chief Abiola is another matter entirely because I wrote him an 11-page letter between June and July, 2001 titled: How you were unconsciously used in the murder of Chief M.K.O Abiola.” Absolving himself of complicity in Kudirat’s death, Al-Mustapha told the court that his plight was due to the fact that he knew a lot about what happened at the material time. He said in order to nail him at all cost, soldiers who served under him as members of body guards and strike force including his personal orderly were induced to give evidence against him at the Special Investigation Panel (SIP) set up to investigate the alleged crime. Source: Thisdayonline.com