WATCH*YOUR*BACK! My Warning To Al-Mustapha – CSP Rabo Lawal Retired Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rabo Lawal was the former head of Aso Rock mobile police squad. He, along with Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and others, were arrested and detained over the alleged murder of late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, among other charges. Lawal regained his freedom about two years before Al-Mustapha. In this interview with Sunday Trust, he cautions Al-Mustapha, against fraternizing with the people that may want to use him for political motives reasons. Excerpts... You have not publicly reacted to the release of your former boss, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha? Honestly, I have to say that I am very happy about the release of my boss, Mustapha, who has become a brother. Therefore, our relationship is not that of boss and subordinate. To say that I am happy with his release is an understatement because I know the tragedies we faced while in detention. This is why I am very happy, and have to thank Allah Who brought him out unhurt. We stayed together in Kirikiri. He was upstairs while I was downstairs. Before that, we were detained together at the police force headquarters in Area 10 (Abuja) where we were put in an underground cell with Mohammed Abacha. We have seen hell in that cell because of the horrible treatment we got. They detained us in that underground cell and denied us access to even sunlight or any form of light not to talk of having access to our families. They blocked everywhere that would allow us to access light and took away other suspects in the cell. We resorted to prayers, telling Allah that if we have committed any sin, He should forgive us. In fact, while in that cell we couldn’t even know the time of the day not to talk of understanding time for prayers. We were chained at both hands and legs, as such we urinated and passed stool at the spot we were staying. Nobody was coming to our help at that time even some of my friends in the police. We spent over one month in that condition. Therefore, the day we were transferred to Kirikiri in Lagos, it came to us as if we were taken to paradise, despite the nature of Kirikiri. Kirikiri became a better place for us than the experience in that underground cell at the force headquarters. Having gone through that experience, I have to be very happy with Mustapha’s release, because I would not even wish my enemy to have a taste of that experience. We were together with him in prison all those years until the time I was released. It is only in the public that I have not said anything, but I have personally visited him with my family both in Kano and in Abuja to congratulate him. I told you that Mustapha has become my brother. What was Al-Mustapha’s life style while in Kirikiri? Sincerely speaking, it is the people that are not close to Al-Mustapha that don’t understand him very well. Mustapha is somebody that is very religious, and continued the same way even in Kirikiri. If fact, if you hear what he did while in Kirikiri, you would be surprised. I know he engaged in humanitarian activities while in Kirikiri. Justice system of this country has really deteriorated and this was why Mustapha engaged in upsetting the fines of many suspects. I know when he was paying the fines of many prisoners who could not afford to pay. As a result of that many people regained their freedom. This is a part from building two Mosques in Kirikiri. Mustapha is somebody who is very free to people, even when we were in Villa. He respects everyone, including some of us who are his subordinates. After Al-Mustapha’s release, he engaged in paying homage to many people. However, the question that is baffling the minds of many, which makes such people to think that there is a hidden agenda behind Al-Mustapha’s release is his visit to some people that are regarded as ‘President Jonathan’s men’, Asari Dokubo especially. What is your take on that? Sincerely speaking, I wouldn’t know why Mustapha decided to visit such people. I also asked myself that question why he should visit people like Asari Dokubo. However, I know that while we were in detention many people including some traditional title holders expressed their concern. Somebody like Alhaji Mustapha Jokolo, the former emir of Gwandu, we would have nothing to say to him than to pray for Allah to continue to bless him. He really fought for our freedom. Therefore, my own understanding of Mustapha’s visit to such type of people, like Alhaji Jokolo, is a thank you visit. Mustapha had cordial relationship with many people when he was serving as late General Abacha’s aide. Nobody is querying his visit to emirs, former Head of States and other individuals, but his visit to people that are regarded as foot soldiers of President Jonathan? Honestly, I can’t say why he has decided to visit such people because I have not discussed with him. However, I know that we have discussed other issues that are related to such issues that you raised now. Therefore, honestly I don’t know his intention for visiting those people. As Al-Mustapha’s brother and friend, would you advise him to go into politics, especially in preparation for 2015? Wallahi (swearing with Allah), I would not advise him to do that. This is because it is Allah that makes his release possible. For this reason, he should rather remain silent and continue to live a silent life. A part from that, don’t forget he is still a military man. Therefore, he should avoid going into politics. Even if he is going to continue paying visits, it should only be a thank you visit. People can put one or two things together to interpret his movements. I know the consequences would not be good if Mustapha decides to go into politics. May be in the future after he retires from the Army, he can go into politics because it is a national service to become a leader and serve your country. What is your take on the appeal that was instituted by Lagos state government against Al-Mustapha’s release? Honestly, I am not happy with that decision. This is because all these things have been at the court and it is the court that released him. Therefore, Lagos state in their own wisdom should have decided to forgive even if they are aggrieved. Why I am even surprised with that decision of Lagos state is that when you convert the years he has spent in prison; we would be talking about life imprisonment. Even myself, I have served what is called life imprisonment because I have spent 13 years and seven month of normal calendar. Prison calendar is six months, therefore Al-Mustapha should have been talking of getting out of prison if he was sentenced for life imprisonment. Just take the issue of his family and other aspects of his life, there is no way he would regain what he has lost. I thought Lagos state government would sympathise with all the aforementioned and allow everything to end here. Before your arrest together with Al-Mustapha, you were a serving police officer, what is your status now? I was compulsorily retired from service by the police service commission. They retired me with my former rank of CSP, but they have paid me all my entitlements. Our thinking was that even if they would retire me, we thought that they would elevate me to a higher rank compared to where my colleagues are now. Despite that we give thanks to Allah because in my earlier life I have never thought that I will join the Nigerian police. We have to thank Allah because we are still alive after the horrible experiences of force headquarters’ underground cell and prison. Because of those experiences, when I was told that I was retired, I did not bother because the present IG really assisted me. He is just like an elder brother to me, and he has really assisted. How is life now after retirement? Honestly there are challenges. You know how life is. Somebody who is just out of prison; you know that person would find life difficult. However, I have to thank my wife who started a catering business during my detention. She is a professional caterer. I am involved in that restaurant business, if not for anything but to avoid being idle. Whatever it is, we thank Allah for everything. On a final note, do you have any other advice for Al- Mustapah? I am pleading that he should be very careful. There are some people that I know as hypocrites and they have now surrounded him. Those people were visiting us in prison and would come to tell some big people things that we have not said. It is on this note that I would once again advice him not to do anything that would not be in the interest of Nigeria and the North. This is my advice. For me, I have no grudges against anyone. Since my compulsory retirement, I have been praying for Allah to give me something better. Source: Sunday Trust
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 18:48:31 +0000
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