Maj. Al-Mustapha visits former Kirikiri Prison Controller in Makurdi

Maj. Al-Mustapha left, with former Kirikiri Prison Controller, Mr. Iorbee Ihiagh in Makurdi

MAKURDI – Former Chief Security Officer, CSO,  to late Gen Sanni Abacha, Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha, Saturaday afternoon paid a thank you visit to retired Controller of Prison, in charge of Kirikiri prison, Mr. Iorbee Ihiagh in Makurdi. Sunday Vanguard gathered that Mr. Ihiagh was in charge of the Kirikiri prison when Al-mustapha was an inmate at the detention facility in Lagos.
The retired Prison officer was also reported to have refused releasing the former CSO to the military authorities on allegation of his involvement in a coup d’état from the prison.
That singular action led to the detention of the Prison officer for two years by the then military administration.
Speaking to journalist on why the Maj. Al-Mustapha chose to visit him in Makurdi, few days after his release from prison, Mr. Ihiagh said it could be in appreciation of what I did at the time he was in detension.
According to him, “At the time Maj. Mustapha was in detention at Kirikiri, I was the head of the facility, it was at the time when there was an allegation of coup d’état and the then Army Chief, Gen. Andrew Azazi requested that Maj. Mustapha be released to the military for questioning on his role in the plot.
“But as a trained prison officer, I declined their request on the ground that there request was not accompanied by a  reproduction warrant which was a prerequisite for such demands; though I risked my carrier but it was the right thing to do.
“And because I insisted that the right thing must be done, considering that if anything had happened to him without proper documentation for his release I would been held responsible, the authorities at the time relieved me of my job and detained me for two years.
“Luckily, after two years, I was released from detention and my rank restored, Mustahpa was privy to all my travials at the time, that is perhaps why, as a God fearing man, he has come to appreciate me for doing my job as a patriotic Nigerian.”
Attempts to talk to Maj. Al-Mustapha failed as he insisted that he would not talk or grant any interviews to journalists.
Meantime, the former CSO who was accompanied on the trip by a large entourage including Mohammed Abacha, son of former Head of State, Gen. Sanni Abacha, were led by their host, to Jato Akaa, some five hours drive from Makurdi, the home town of former Minister for Steel, Wantaregh Paul Unongo Mohamed Abacha, where they would pay homage to the elder statesman