The Supreme Court has dismissed the long-running trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd) over the murder of late pro-democracy activist Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, citing abandonment of the case by the Lagos State Government.
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, a five-member panel led by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji ruled that Lagos failed to prosecute the case despite being granted permission in 2014 to reopen the trial.
The court noted that the state neither filed a notice of appeal nor appeared in court for several years, despite being duly served hearing notices.
Justice Aba-Aji held that the prolonged inaction amounted to loss of interest and formally dismissed the matter, along with a related suit filed by the Lagos State Governor.
Kudirat Abiola, wife of presumed June 12, 1993 election winner Chief MKO Abiola, was assassinated in Lagos during the pro-democracy struggle against military rule.
