The Nigerian Army on Monday indicated that it would likely reinstate Major Hamza al-Mustapha into the service following the dismissal of a murder suit against him.
al-Mustapha, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to former head of state, the late General Sani Abacha, regained his freedom on Friday after 14 years in detention.
A Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, discharged and acquitted him over an alleged conspiracy and the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996.
The court had upturned a death sentence handed down on him on January 30, 2013, by Justice Mojisola Dada of a Lagos High Court.
Colonel John Agim, Chief of Staff in the Directorate of the Army Public Relations told reporters: “With regards to Mustapha’s release, well, I want to confirm that he is still in the army.
“The case is going to be handled by the army administratively in line with the harmonised terms and conditions of service.’’
Thousands of people, including traders and commercial tricycle operators, thronged the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, to welcome Al-Mustapha on Sunday.
