Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has dragged a Kaduna-based Islamic preacher, Sheikh Sanusi Khalil, to the Upper Shari’a Court in Kaduna.

Al-Mustapha is challenging Khalil’s accusation that he is training snipers in South Korea to be used to eliminate 1,000 perceived enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 elections. The case was supposed to come up yesterday but has been rescheduled for May 22.

In the suit filed by Al-Mustapha’s counsel, Sadau Garba, the former CSO accused the Islamic preacher of defamation and character assassination as contained in his Friday sermon sometime in December 2013 where he alleged that Al-Mustapha was given the contract to train 1,000 snipers for President Jonathan and want the Sheik to prove his allegation before the court.

He stated that the Islamic preacher went further to put the defamatory words in both CD and DVD plates and selling them to the public both within and outside the country, an act he said contravenes the provision of section 137(1) of Sharia Penal Code, 2002 of Kaduna State.

While denying allegations that he was working for President Jonathan’s re-election in 2015, the former CSO insisted that he is not a member of a political party, let alone working for Jonathan or any other political group, adding that people like Obasanjo should not be trusted.

The accused person, Sheik Sanusi Khalil declined comment on the matter, saying that, since the case was in court, he would await until the court decides.

Speaking to journalists at the court premises amidst tight security yesterday, Al-Mustapha also challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to a public debate to prove that he was training snipers that will execute purported enemies of President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2015 elections.

He also alleged that the former president masterminded the torture he went through during his incarceration.

•Photo shows Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.