Lagos, Nigeria - Ex-aide to late Nigerian dictator, co-conspirator to die for killing business mogul's wife - A High Court judge in Nigeria's economic capital city of Lagos on Monday sentenced to death by hanging the former military aide of the late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his co-conspirator for the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of the late business mogul and presidential candidate Moshood Abiola.

Justice Mojisola Dada ruled that Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and a former aide of the Abiolas, Lateef Sofolahan, are guilty of the charges of murder and conspiracy to murder slammed on them.

'The second defendant (Sofolahan) willingly handed over Kudirat Abiola to her killer. The court is a fact-finding tribunal which must be seen to be doing its work without any bias and ambiguity.

'The first (al-Mustapha) and second (Sofolahan) defendants jointly agreed to kill Kudirat Abiola. The defendants are found guilty of conspiracy and murder. The evidence is so weighty that the court has no doubts. The defendants are, therefore, found guilty, as charged.

'The light shines in darkness and darkness comprehends it not. Those who shed blood are those who fear death most. The defendants are accordingly sentenced to death by hanging until they are proved dead,' the judge ruled.

In a judgement that lasted several hours, the Judge described Sofolahan as a 'viper' and 'Judas Iscariot', who sacrificed his master (Kudirat Abiloa) because of his personal greed.

Al-Mustapha’s supporters, who had besieged the court in large numbers, were confused and speechless after the judgement was delivered.

They looked helpless as the convicts were whisked away by security agents after the judgement.

Al-Mustapha was the most powerful man during the 1993-1998 tenure of the late military dictator Sani Abacha.

After Chief Abiola challenged the military's cancellation of the presidential vote which he was widely acclaimed to have won in 1993, he was arrested and detained until he died shortly after Abacha himself died in yet-unclear circumstances in 1998.

The prosecution team, led by the Solicitor-General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, expressed satisfaction at the judgment, while the defence lawyer Olalekan Ojo said his team would appeal against the judgment.

Pana 30/01/2012