Al-Mustapha’s status’ll be decided by extant rules – Army

The Nigerian Army has said that the position to be occupied in the service by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, a former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, would be based on extant rules and regulations.
The Nigerian Army was reacting to reports that Al-Mustapha would be made a Brigadier-General upon his release from prison after 14 years undergoing trial for alleged complicity in the murder of late Kudirat Abiola.
The Army, in a statement on Tuesday by the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Ibrahim Attahiru, said the report that Al-Mustapha would automatically be made a General was erroneous.
Attahiru said the Army as a professional force will not just promote Al-Mustapha without following all administrative procedures.
He said in the statement: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an erroneous publication being circulated on the internet about the decoration of the former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha with the rank of a Brigadier General following his recent acquittal by the court.
“The Nigerian Army as a professional force wishes to state that all administrative procedures are guided by extant administrative rules and regulations such as the Armed Forces of Nigeria Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service amongst others.
“The Nigerian Army wishes to advice the media to always cross check facts before going to the press to avoid misinformation, misrepresentation and sensitization in its reportage.”