supporters of the former Chief Security Officer to the late head of state, Gen.
Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, yesterday stormed Kirikiri Maximum
Security Prisons to inaugurate an Ultra Modern Central Mosque and Quranic
School he renovated within the prisons.
Al-Mustapha, who
was last year sentenced to death for his role in the murder of Alhaja Kudirat
Abiola, mobilised funds from friends and associates for the reconstruction of a
mosque in the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons in Lagos.
The prisons
premises witnessed an unusual crowd which was almost uncontrollable for
officials of Nigeria Prison Service who lamented the large turnout of guests
for the ceremony. Many other invited guests had to be locked outside the prison.
The event which was
chaired by Dan Masanin Kano, Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule and Senator Ganiyu Solomon,
had other personalities in attendance including the representative of Oba of
Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garuba Akinola, founder
Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederic Fasehun, Prince Doyin Sijuade,
northern politicians among others.
However, the Dan
Masanin Kano was unable to control his emotions when he approached Al-Mustapha
who had kept a low profile among other inmates as both men hugged, and
exchanged few words and cried hysterically.
Supporters of
Al-Mustapha however added more drama outside the prison walls when they began
to call for the release of the embattled former CSO, chanting: “Sai
Al-Mustapha, Free Mustapha”.
An official of the
Prisons Service who pleaded not to be mentioned in press said crowds in large numbers
from the northern parts of the country had started to arrive the prison quaters
since Friday for the event.
He said only 700
guests could be allowed to access the prison yard, while hundreds of invitees
mostly, including journalist where turned back form witnessing the official
inauguration ceremony for the mosque.
The northern
community in Lagos also sent a delegation of about 200 people lead by Alhaji
Yerima Shetima.
Chaplain of the
Muslim Community, Maximum Security Prison, Kirikiri Imam Adio Mulid Misbandeen,
told our correspondent that the mosque had been in bad condition for years
until Major Al-Mustapha approached him to be allowed to renovate it.
Daily
