Defarmation: Al-Mustapha withdraws suit against Islamic cleric

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The former chief security officer to late Head of State, late Gen. Sani Abacha (rtd), Major Al-Mustapha has withdrawn the case of defarmation of character and spreading of wrong information on his person brought against a Kaduna based Islamic cleric Sheikh Sanusi Khalil at the Upper Shari’ah Court sitting at Daura Road, Kaduna.

Addressing the court yesterday, counsel to Major Al-Mustapha Barr.

Garba Sadau said the withdrawal of the suit came after several interventions by prominent Nigerians who call on the two parties to mend their fence and follow the Islamic injunction the court should be the last source of justice; but were settlement can be agreed parties should follow such part.

“May I announce to Your Honour that we are withdrawing our suit before Your Lordship because we have arrived at a decision and agreement based on the Defendant’s public retrieval of his earlier statement accusing my client of training some snipers to kill one thousand Nigerians.

“We humbly asked this Court to strike out this earlier suit based on this mutual agreement “.In his response, counsel to the Defendant, Malam Aminu Dikko said the defendant has no objection to the call for withdrawal and strike out of the suit by the Plaintiff.

According to him, the defendant initiated the reconciliation process, when he announced in the same mosque, where he earlier in his sermon

accused Major Al-Mustapha of training snipers, that he erred in a statement and subsequently apologized.

Speaking outside the court premises, Major Al-Mustapha said, as a Northerner and a former military officer, he respects senior authority and when some prominent Nigerians approached him and pleaded with him to see reason and withdrew the case, he succumbed and instructed his lawyer to file application for withdrawal before the Shari’ah Court.

Major Al-Mustapha however, warned this might not be the end of the road in this suit between him and Sheikh Sanusi Khalil as according to him, he is aware that the Sheikh has written a damaging letter to the Human Right Commission damaging his character and he’s only waiting for the investigation by the Human Right Commission before deciding on the next step to take, which according to him may still be another legal tussle.