Al-Mustapha: I never beat up Obasanjo

Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late head of state General Sani Abacha, yesterday denied beating up former President Olusegun Obasanjo during Obasanjo’s incarceration in prison.

Al-Mustapha said he rather helped Obasanjo with his personal upkeep at the various prisons, due to his position as a former military head of state and an elder statesman.

He said this while speaking on the BBC Hausa Service radio yesterday.

Al-Mustapha also denied ever beating anybody or standing on the way of somebody’s freedom in his life.

“I have never beaten Obasanjo and I never beat up anybody. Obasanjo lied on me and God will be the judge between me and him,” he said.

“When Obasanjo was arrested on charges of coup attempt, I was the one who gave N10, 000 for the purchase of bed sheet, pillow sheet and brush.

“Also, when he was moved to Jos prison, I and governor Manah used to buy him food items from NASCO Company. All these assistances I rendered were due to his position as a former head of state and an elder person,” he said.

Al-Mustapha added: “I had no intention whatsoever for someone to pay me back what I did to him.”

Asked that the former president had at a number of times claimed to have been abused in prison by him, Al-Mustapha replied that it was all a lie.

“You can see during Oputa panel, he refused to show up.

Up till today, he has never agreed to meet me personally,” he said.

When asked on whether he would support President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections, the former CSO shied away from a point-blank answer.

“I cannot say anything until when I am done with the court’s appeal case and with the military. Until such a time when I would announce to the whole world about my decision, after I am done with all these cases,” he said.