May 1, 2014
SaharaReporters, New York
Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, the former Chief Security Officer to former dictator, General Sani Abacha, has dragged the Anti-President Goodluck Jonathan cleric, Sheik Sanusi Khalil out publicly. Sheik Sanusi Khalil, who in a widely publicized recorded sermon said, Al-Mustapha is the one group awarded a contract to train 1000 snipers, by President Jonathan, ahead of the 2015 elections to an Upper Shariah Court sitting in Kaduna.
SaharaReporters learned that there was tension yesterday when both parties appeared in the courtroom. This tension, witnesses say, grew after the failure to settle the dispute between Al-Mustapha and Sheik Khalil in an outside-the-court settlement. Witnesses tell SaharaReporters that the tension between the two men grew to a fever pitch, considering what was said, and the overall sensitivity of this case.
The judge presiding over the case, who was also absent in the courtroom, had postponed the hearing to May 22nd according to an associate of Al-Mustapha.
Sheik Khalil is said to have preached the following words in the widely circulated, and highly charged recording captured on CD, and even DVD video formats. The two disks were screened or played in Nigeria and beyond. The accusations of assembling a 1000-man sniper squad contingent were vehemently denied by Al-Mustapha. He sued the Sheik on the grounds that his words had violated the provision of Section 137 (1) Shariah Penal Code, 2002, Kaduna State.
The statement read as follows:
“Allah is great 3x. The evil med do lives after them. Information has reached me you are in charge of training some young snipers and killers. That is what he said. “Snipers and killers to promote your political ambition”. There boys that are being trained to kill some 1000 people in this country perceived to be stumbling block on your part to achieving your ambition. That is what he said in his letter. If it is Sanusi that said this they would accuse him of abusing some people. For them to kill 1000 people. This is what Obasanjo told Jonathan in the letter.
“About two to three Fridays ago in this place. I told about the existence of these sniper boys. I said this here. The person that was given this unfortunately is a Muslim brother. He has been given the contract of training them and mobilizing them. All the snipers known during Sani Abacha era. I said this here. He has been given the contract of training and mobilizing them on how to use these boys in wanton killings in order to win election at all costs. Let’s call spade a spade. The person that was given this contract is Al-Mustapha.
“I swear with the name of God, let me tell you something. Let no one think we are abusing someone. Understand something. We are not envious of anybody because he has refused us something in terms of feeding or livelihood. We are explaining to you the predicament we find ourselves. Al-Mustapha is the one that was given the contract. I swear with the name of God, where he first started sitting with these boys, the venue and the time he sat, I swear with the name of God I have all the details.
“Al-Mustapha, Al-Mustapha, do you know the meaning of Al-Mustapha you vagabond? Are you not the one Allah blessed during Sani Abacha era? Even Abacha had no say but what you said? Are you not the one being accused of mass killings during Abacha era? Are you not the one being accused of bringing terrorism into Nigeria? Mustapha when you were arrested and detained, the poor, Muslims, Christians, Soldiers, Police, Nigerians both within and outside the country all sympathized with you, prayed for you. If you are to pay for these prayers, I swear with the name of God you don’t have the money to pay. I swear with the name of God, you don’t have.”
The May 22nd hearing will be closely watched in what is a highly charged atmosphere of finger pointing between the two parties. Tension between the two has been simmering in recent weeks as the shocking audio and video statement circulated widely.