Hamzat Al-Mustapha, a retired major and former chief security officer (CSO) to Sanni Abacha, the late military dictator, on Wednesday said he protected his principal with all the powers attached to his office.
Al-Mustapha said this in Akure, Ondo state capital, on Wednesday, during the 7th Dr. Fredrick Fasehun public lecture.
Many Nigerians he said had wrong impressions about the roles he played in the administration of Abacha.
“My primary duty as the CSO to the head of state was to ensure the safety of the head of state and that I did in conformity with the oath of Commission of the Nigerian Army and the Oath of Allegiance,” he reportedly said.
“As a soldier, who had taken the oath of commission and the oath of allegiance, the only thing paramount to me at that time was the safety of my principal and I ensured that with all the powers attached to my office.”
He accused some unnamed Yoruba elders who turned around to criticise Abacha after he had died of being behind some of the policies of the dictator.
“Some forces in Yoruba land were behind Abacha and they were the ones behind some of the things he did,” he said.
“It was thus surprising to see that these same Yoruba leaders were saying bad things about him at the end.”
Commenting on his 15 years detention over the death of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the self-acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993 election.
Al-Mustapha was prosecuted by the Lagos state government. A court even sentenced him to death, but the ruling was appealed.
The retired military officer praised Fasheun for standing by him during the dark period of his life.
“I paid the price for loyalty and for 15 good years, I paid the price. I was tortured, frustrated, intimidated and tormented,” he said.
“It was while in detention that I lost my father and mother. My parents died after being tortured, when I was in detention. But God has replaced them for me with Dr. Fredrick Fasehun who is now my father and his wife who is now my mother. The two of them are playing the roles of parent for me and I am proud to have them as my adopted parent.
“I met papa by coincidence in one of the court sittings in Lagos. He stood for me after a woman had lied before the court that I killed late Kudirat Abiola. It was that day that I discovered that some Yorubas are wonderful people.”