By Adedapo Adesanya

The Supreme Court has dismissed the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in the murder of the late politician, Mrs Kudirat Abiola.

Mrs Abiola was the wife of the late businessman and politician, Mr MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was annulled by former Military President, Mr Ibrahim Babangida.

She was murdered in Lagos on June 4, 1996, by some gunmen, who allegedly acted on the orders of the Sani Abacha’s military junta.

Later, Mr Al-Mustapha was accused and convicted. Investigations into the killing traced the killers’ bullets to his personal armoury.

Now, the trial of Mr Al-Mustapha in the murder charge brought against him by the Lagos State government was put to rest on Thursday by a five-member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji.

At the proceedings, where Lagos State was slated to re-open the trial, no legal representation appeared, and no process had been filed since 2014, when an order to re-open the case was granted in its favour.

Mr Paul Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing Mr Al-Mustapha, informed the Justices that Lagos State had not taken any steps to implement the 2014 order to reopen the trial.

He said that not even a notice of appeal had been filed by Lagos as the appellant to demonstrate its seriousness in prosecuting the trial.

Mr Daudu noted that when the order to reopen the trial was granted in 2014, Lagos State was issued a 30-day ultimatum to file its notice of appeal, explaining that more than 11 years later, nothing had been done to comply with the order.

He, therefore, urged the court to hold that the appellant had abandoned the case and should have it dismissed in its entirety.

Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, who presided over the matter, sought to know if Lagos had been served with the hearing notice, a question answered in the affirmative by the Registrar of the Court.

In a brief ruling, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, agreed that Lagos had lost interest in the matter and had consequently abandoned it.

Justice Aba-Aji held that nine years was long enough for the appellant to have filed a notice of appeal and the brief of appeal.

The court also expressed disapproval that no legal representation had been made by the state government, while no information was provided to the Court or the respondent, despite being served with the hearing notice since 2020.

Consequently, the matter marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed. Another matter by the Lagos governor, marked SC/CR/6/2014, on the same trial was also dismissed on the same ground.

The Supreme Court had in 2014, in a ruling on Lagos State’s application for permission to re-open the case out of time, granted the request to challenge the Court of Appeal decision of July 12, 2013, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha in the murder case.

The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, in a ruling of a seven-member panel, ordered Lagos State to file its notice of appeal within 30 days.

The decision followed the consent of Mr Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, not to oppose the application, which was argued by Osunsanya Oluwayemisi, a Senior State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice.

The Acting CJN had said that by the decision of the apex court, the time for Lagos to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s findings on the high-profile murder case had been extended from July 12, 2013, when the Court of Appeal judgment was delivered, until January 7, 2014.

By the permission granted in 2014, Lagos was cleared to challenge the not-guilty verdict granted in favour of the military officer by the Court of Appeal in 2013.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

To strengthen the implementation of the Employees’ Compensation Scheme, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed readiness to collaborate closely with the organised labour, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Speaking in Lagos at the Safe Workplace Intervention Project (SWIP) Annual Interactive Enlightenment Forum and Awards Presentation ceremonies held at the NECA House, the Director-General of NECA, Mr Wale Smatt-Oyerinde, expressed confidence that the scheme would benefit Nigerian workers.

He also explained that SWIP was designed as a learning and equipment platform, enabling employers to better understand their obligations under the law, appreciate the benefits of compliance and adopt proactive occupational safety and health practices that protect both workers and enterprises.

He described the programme as deliberate interventions to recognize organizations that have demonstrated exemplary commitment to workplace safety, while also providing a forum for open dialogue on the practical challenges employers face in implementing the ECA 2010.

“The Lagos event is part of the nationwide SWIP engagement series, which reflects the association’s resolve to ensure that employers across the country are adequately informed, engaged, and supported in achieving compliance and improving workplace safety outcomes. Safe workplaces are productive places where workers are protected, motivated, and assured of compensation in the event of injury or any disease,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Maigari Dingyadi, said the SWIP initiative has brought together key stakeholders to advance the cause of safe, healthy, and productive workplaces in Nigeria.

He also noted that the Act represents a major milestone in Nigeria’s labour administration framework, guaranteeing fair, adequate compensation to workers who suffer injuries, disabilities, or diseases. or death arising from the cause of their employment.

“It places a premium on prevention by encouraging employers to prioritize workplace safety, risk management, and occupational therapy,” he said, noting that the project is timely and strategic by combining awareness of client support and recognition of best practices to promote a culture in which safety is not seen as a cost, but as a critical investment in human capital, productivity, and national development.

On her part, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Ms Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, stated that the federal government is working around the clock to strengthen the enforcement of the Factory Rights Act.

“We cannot speak of job creation while workers are exposed to preventable danger. No job is worth a human life. Our objective is simple but non-negotiable. Every Nigerian worker must leave home for work and return safely at the end of the day,” she said, urging employers to fully comply with the provisions of the Act and contribute by continuously investing in safety systems.

“I also encourage workers to remain self-conscious and to exercise their rights responsibly under the law,” she said.

Congratulating the award winners at the ceremony, the Minister noted that the recognition is a clear demonstration that compliance and competitiveness can go hand in hand.

In his remarks, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, disclosed that a sustained effort to strengthen the NSITF Act, improve compliance, and empower workers can transform occupational risk management in Nigeria.

According to Mr Ajaero, this action will not only reduce the socio-economic burden of workplace injuries but also promote a culture of safety, accountability, and social justice across the nation’s workplaces.

He emphasized the need to focus on raising awareness, enforcement, and inclusivity, noting that the Act can serve as a model framework for workers’ protection, ensuring that all Nigerian employees enjoy their right to fair, timely, and adequate compensation regardless of sector.

Also, the chief executive of NSITF, Mr Oluwaseun Faleye, said SWIP has evolved into a strategic platform for driving awareness, strengthening compliance, and fostering collaboration around occupational safety and health.

While commending NECA for its consistent leadership and promoting employer compliance and workers’ safety, he noted that compliance must not be seen as a regulatory obligation alone, but as a strategic business decision that saves our human capital, reduces operational risk, and enhances the organization’s reputation.

A major highlight of the event was the recognition of companies such as Nigerian Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Chi Limited, among others, with some receiving car ambulances to promote workplace safety.

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