Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha compulsorily retired from the Army

Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha compulsorily retired from the
Army
Former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani
Abacha, Maj. Hamza al-Mustapha, has been compulsorily retired from the
Army.
His compulsory retirement, according to a military source, was due to
his absence in the Army for a period of over 14 years, while he was
away to face the trial over the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, a wife
of the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O.
Abiola.
On Wednesday, Punch sighted a copy of the retirement letter sent to Al-
Mustapha from the Army Headquarters which stated that the Army Council
took the decision to force him out of service at its meeting held on
August 5, 2013, more than a year after the Court of Appeal acquitted
him.
The retirement letter had the date of July 14, 2014 and it put the period
the former Head of State’s CSO was in the army at 33 years and 11
days.
According to the letter, the reason for his compulsory retirement was,
“undeployability arising from restructuring and/or lack of establishment,”.
However, the letter commended him for demonstrating “good conduct in
the discharge of your duties” throughout his service in the army.
The letter partly read:“You are authorised to retain your substantive
rank of Major. You are also entitled to gratuity and pension as
well as Certificate of Military Service and Retired Officers’ Identity
Card.
“You are entitled to your ceremonial dress, service dress and mess
kit. However, you should wear uniforms corresponding to your
rank at the time of retirement only when you are invited for
military ceremonies; military weddings; memorial services of National
Day celebration and Regimental dinners.”
Following Abacha’s death on June 8, 1998, Al-Mustapha was arrested in
October of the same year for the murder of Kudirat, he was subsequently
sentenced to death for Kudirat’s murder by a Lagos High Court in
Igbosere on January 30, 2012, but was released and acquitted on July
12, 2013  by a superior judgment of the Court of Appeal in Lagos