Major Al Mustapha Retired compulsorily From The Army

                     

Former Chief Security Officer,CSO to Late Head of State Sani Abacha,Major Al Mustapha has been compulsorily retired from the Army.
His Compulsory retirement,according was due to his unavailability for a period of 14 years  while he was in prison to face trial for the murder of Kudirat Abiola,wife to the acclaimed June 12 presidential election  winner, Chief MKO Abiola.


Punch on Wednesday sighted a copy of the retirement letter sent to Al-Mustapha from the Army Headquarters, The retirement letter indicated that the Army Council took the decision to force him out of service at its meeting held on August 5, 2013, more than a year after the Court of Appeal acquitted him,

The letter  was however dated July 14, 2014 and it put the period the former Head of State’s CSO was in the army at 33 years and 11 days.
The reason given for his compulsory retirement, “undeployability arising from restructuring and/or lack of establishment,” which is the fifth in the list of nine conditions as stated in the law which the Army Council can based such a decision on.
The Letter Though Commended him  for demonstrating “good conduct in the discharge of your duties” throughout his service in the army.
The letter partly read, “You are authorised to retain your substantive rank of Major. You are also entitled to gratuity and pension as well as Certificate of Military Service and Retired Officers’ Identity Card.

“You are entitled to your ceremonial dress, service dress and mess kit. However, you should wear uniforms corresponding to your rank at the time of retirement only when you are invited for military ceremonies; military weddings; memorial services of National Day celebration and Regimental dinners.”
Following Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, Al-Mustapha was arrested in October of the same year for the murder of Kudirat, an offence for which he was tried for 14 years.
The Federal Government also pressed other charges which did not succeed against Al-Mustapha during the period.
He was subsequently sentenced to death for Kudirat’s murder by a Lagos High Court in Igbosere on January 30, 2012, but he was discharged and acquitted on July 12, 2013 by a superior judgment of the Court of Appeal in Lagos.