Late filing of opposition stalls hearing of al-Mustapha’s appeal

Hearing of the appeal by Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, was on Monday stalled at the Court of Appeal, Lagos due to late filing of the state’s opposition in the case.

This came even as the convict’s supporters beseiged the courtroom like they used to do when the matter was being heard at the Lagos High Court, Igbosere which on January 30, 2012 sentenced him and Kudirat’s personal aide, Lateef Shofolahan, to death by hanging.

The group of supporters, comprising old men and women said prayers together for his release, after the appellate court adjourned the matter and fixed May 30 as fresh hearing date.

Counsel for the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Femi Adamson, on Monday, told the Chima Nweze-led appeal panel that he had just filed the respondent’s brief in the morning just before the court started sitting.