Contract to Train Snipers:Pressure Mounts on Al-Mustapha to Drag Sheikh Khalil to Court-Exclusive Report

By Danlami Nmodu
Major Hamza Al Mustapha is under unusual pressure from his associates.Newsdiaryonline learnt that several youth groups are mounting pressure on the former chief security officer to late General Sani Abacha urging him to take one bold step to clear his name over an allegation that he is in deed training snipers for the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
His associates ,it was learnt are insisting he must drag a Kaduna based Islamic Cleric Sheikh Khalil to court for announcing that Al Mustpah was the man who was awarded a contract by the government to train snipers to kill 1000 people on political watch list
Actually ,the allegation that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration had placed 1000 people on political watch list and that the regime was training snipers was raised by former President Olusegun Onasanjo in his 18 –page letter to the president titled:Before it is too late.But Obasanjo did not mention anybody ‘s name pointedly as the trainer of the snipers.
It was therefore a rude shock to Al Mustapha’s supporters when an audio CD emerged about the sermon conducted by Sheikh Khalil at his Zangon Daura Mosque said to be at Zaria -Kaduna Road specifically mentioning Al Mustapha as the man who got the contract to train snipers.
A copy of the audio CD was obtained by Newsdiaryonline in Abuja.The sheikh clearly said that every allegation Obasanjo raised in the 18 page letter to Jonathan was true.He also proceeded to say that on the alleged training of snipers, it was a Muslim who got the contract.He then pointedly named Almustapha repeatedly as the one who got the contract.Even more, the sheikh claimed that he knows where, when and the time Al Mustapha met with some of the boys.
Newsdiaryonline learnt that the Sheikh’s claim may have been part of a major campaign by those opposed to Al Mustapha to mess him up.Supporters the former CSO claim that their investigations have revealed that the Sheikh may have been sponsored by a retired military officer (names withheld).Some powerful elements are alleged to have urged Jonathan to ensure Al Mustapha goes back to prison at all cost.Jonathan ,it was claimed, rejected this call insisting it was a court that released the former CSO, not him.
But with the emergence of the audio CD,pressure is being mounted on Al-Mustapha to indeed drag the Sheikh to court.Newsdiaryonline however learnt Al Mustapha appears to be cautious about how to react to the Sheikh.One of his associates was overheard saying “I have told Oga(Al Mustapha) severally.I have contacted lawyers but oga is still dragging his feet”
The associate explained why the Sheikh must be sued.” If we don’t sue him,it will mean that what the man is saying is true.”
Newsdiaryonline has however learnt that there is a flip- side.One observer said, Al Mustapha may in fact be cautious because he knows the importance of Imams and sheikhs in the north.They are among his main supporters and these claims by Sheikh Khalil may be a trap for him to make the wrong move.
In fact, an NGO topshot who spoke with Newsdiaryonline advised Al Mustapha not to cave in to pressure from some of his supporters. “He should not go ahead and sue the Sheikh because it might be a plot to set him up against his massive support base from northern masses.Do you know how it will be easy to condemn Almustpha for dragging a Sheikh to court for whatever reasons?”
He added “ taking the Sheikh to court may turn the tide of northern public opinions against him and he must be careful about that.Whoever sent the Sheikh knew exactly what he wanted to achieve including to provoke Al Mustapha into making a reckless move”
How Al Mustapha will stave off the pressure said to be coming from youth, women and other groups remains to be seen.