Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Hamza Al-Mustapha

 

Charge:

Murder and Conspiracy

Sentence:

Death

Years Imprisoned:

13.75

Year Crime:

1996

Year Convicted:

2012

Year Cleared:

2013

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Nigeria

County or Region of Crime:

Lagos

City of Crime:

Lagos

Result:

Judicially Exonerated

Summary of Case:

"Hamza Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan were codefendants wrongly convicted of murder and conspiracy in the death of Kudirat Abiola in 1996 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Lagos, Al-Mustapha was former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, while Shofolahan was a protocol officer in the MKO Abiola campaign organization. Both men were arrested and arraigned in October 1999. They were held in custody until their bench trial after which they were both sentenced on January 30, 2012 to death by hanging. On July 12, 2013 the Court of Appeal in Lagos quashed both defendant's convictions and ordered their acquittal and discharge from custody on the basis the prosecution had in totality, failed to present evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt a charge of conspiracy and murder against Al-Mustapha and Shofolahan. On November 29, 2013 the Court of Appeal struck the application filed by the Lagos State Government, seeking leave to appeal the court’s judgment that acquitted Hamza Al-Mustapha and Lateef Shofolahan. The prosecution's application was untimely because it had filed after 30 day deadline had expired."

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

"On July 12, 2013 the Court of Appeal in Lagos quashed both defendant's convictions and ordered their acquittal and discharge from custody on the basis the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence they were guilty of the crimes."

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Black

Information Source 1:

"Lagos withdraws application seeking to appeal judgment on Al Mustapha, By Daily Post Staff, Daily Post (Lagos, Nigeria), November 29, 2013"

Information Location 1:

http://dailypost.com.ng/2013/11/29/lagos-withdraws-application-seeking-appeal-judgment-al-mustapha/

Information Source 2:

"Hamza Al-Mustapha & Lateef Shofolahan Acquitted and Discharged of Conspiracy & Murder of Kudirat Abiola by Lagos Appeal Court, By Damilare Aiki (staff), Bellanaija.com, July 12, 2013"

Information Location 2:

http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/07/12/hamza-al-mustapha-lateef-shofolahan-acquitted-and-discharged-of-conspiracy-murder-of-alhaja-kudirat-abiola-by-lagos-appeal-court/

Information Source 3:

"Appeal Court Dismisses Murder Charges Against Al-Mustapha, By Channels Television (Lagos, Nigeria), July 12, 2013"

Information Location 3:

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2013/07/12/appeal-court-dismisses-murder-charges-against-al-mustapha/

Information Source 4:

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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