From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, has dragged a prominent Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil before the Upper Shari’ah Court, Daura Road, Kaduna for alleged defamation of character.
The case, which came up for mention amidst tight security by a combined team of soldiers, police and members of the National Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), who sealed-off Daura Road, caused fear and panics among residents of the area.
However, the matter was not heard due to the absence of the presiding judge, Malam Mustapha Umar.
Al-Mustapha, in a direct criminal complain summon filed before the court by his counsel, Sadau Garba, said he dragged the Islamic cleric to court for defamation and mischievous propaganda against his person.
According to the originating summons, sometimes in December 2013 on a Friday sermon, Sheikh Khalil told his congregation at the Sani Zangon Daura Juma’at mosque, alleging that Al-Mustapha was contracted by the government to train snipers to kill some 1,000 people in the country in order to promote a political ambition.
“The defamatory” words, according to the summons, “are contained in both CD and DVD plates recorded with the knowledge and consent of the accused person and were being sold to members of the public both within and outside Nigeria” contrary to the provision of section 137 (1) Shari’ah Penal Code 2002, Kaduna state.
In an interview shortly after the case was adjourned to May 22, 2014, Al-Mustapha said he approached the court to seek for justice against the dangerous propaganda against his person.
“We filed a motion of criminal direct complain before the court and we are here seeking for justice over some mischievous allegations against me, which I see as a dangerous propaganda that requires legal attention.
“The issues in the case are numerous, I don’t want to delve into them; I want the court to look at it speedily and bring out the contents so that justice would be done at the shortest time possible in the interest of peace, security harmony and in the interest of religion, upon which the person we have brought before the court has utilised. I am a Muslim, he is a Muslim” he said.
Asked why he didn’t sue former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also made similar allegations in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, Al-Mustapha explained that he did not take legal action against Obasanjo because he (Obasanjo) did not mention his (Al-Mustapha) name in the allegation in the letter to the President.
Also reacting in an interview at the court premises, the accused person, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil said Allah is in control of what comes out of the case.
“I am in court because Major Al-Mustapha has sued me in respect of my Juma’at sermon. He is alleging defamation of character. I believe that this is a Shari’ah court and Shari’ah court is the best for the Muslims. All I know is that Allah is in control and what comes out of this case, I know it is a destiny from Allah” he said.
