by the man who should know: Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP)
Theodore Bethnel Zadok, who for the two years before the chief's death
was in charge of his living and imprisonationin government custody.
Zadok in his evidence-in-chief at the hearing of the petition by
Abiola's first son, Kola and physician, Dr. Ore Falomo, related how he
was apparently handed away from Chief Abiola, and by the time he
returned to him, he had been offered tea, only to be dead a few
minutes thereafter.
Reading from a prepared text, the police officer said: "I was posted
to head the detention base of Chief M. K. O. Abiola with about
thirteen (13) body guards under me. and since the day I took over the
duties of the detention camp of Chief M. K. O. Abiola I was
responsible for collecting the sum of N800,000(Eight Hundred Thousand
Naira) quarterly from Major Hamza Al-Mustapha to the commissioner of
police FCT command Abuja for his feeding.
That is three times a day subject to what he wanted to eat. I also
took care of his health by seeing the Doctor any time he complained of
any illness. In view of this he never ate any food or drank any thing
without me tasting it first before giving it to him to eat or drink.
"I always collected some money from the Chief Security Officer Major
Hamza Al-Mustapha to buy toiletries, fruit drinks, bedding and water.
"The Chief Security Officer Major hamza Al-Mustapha ordered me to give
Chief MKO Abiola Koran and Bible for reading and I used to collect
some money from the Chief Security Officer to buy some newspapers and
magazines for the chief to read, and also give the chief some plain
sheets for anything he might wish to write. My lord, Chief MKO Abiola
never believed that I was a Security man who came to guard him, but a
son who came to take care of his father. I will like to support
thisstatement with a written note, written to me by Chief MKO Abiola.
"Before General Oladipo Diya's coup attempt, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha,
on the 10th of December, 1997 ordered me to take Chief MKO Abiola to
any safe place, preferably the commissioner of police guest house at
Wuse. And after the said failed coup attempt Major hamza Al-Mustapha
ordered me to move Chief MKO Abiola from the commissioner's guest
house to Kado Housing Estate popularly known as Jeremiah Useni Housing
Estate Kado.
"On the 8th day of June 1998 the day the Headof State General Sani
Abacha died the chief Security Officer Major Hamza Al-Mustapha ordered
me along with Lt. Ikilama to move Chief MKO Abiola from Kado Housing
Estate to Gado Nasko Barracks and from there all the 13body guards
attached to me were withdrawn except the driver and leaving the
soldiers of the Guards Brigade to take over the guard.
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