According to the enhanced measures, intending visitors to the detainees are made to apply in writing along with two passport-sized photographs.

The Federal Government has beefed up security around Mohammed Abacha, son of the former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha, the former Chief of Army Staff, Major-General Ishaya Bamaiyi and former Chief Security Officer to General Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha.

The security measures have also been extended to former military administrator of Zamfara State, Col. Jibril Bala Yakubu and former Police Commissioner, James Danbaba.

According to the enhanced measures, intending visitors to the detainees are made to apply in writing along with two passport-sized photographs. The applications are subsequently forwarded to the department of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja which in turn cross-checks the addresses and identities of the intending visitors.

In addition, a team of SSS men are being dispatched to the Kirikiri maximum security prison on a weekly basis, an arrangement Daily Trust reliably gathered is only with regard to the detainees.

Out-going Controller-General of Prisons, Alhaji Ibrahim Jarma, told Daily Trust in Lagos that the government took the extra measures to protect the detainees and the society.

According to him, “we have taken these measures to ensure that the inmates do not escape and by that we are protecting the society”.

“At the same time, such arrangement is necessary to protect the inmates so that they are not harmed. You protect the society and you also protect the inmates.”

The duo of Bamaiyi and Mohammed Abacha are standing trial for their alleged roles in the killing in June 1994 of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Chief M.K.O. Abiola while Bamaiyi, Col. Jibril Bala Yakubu, and Commissioner of Police, James Danbaba, are charged with accessory after the fact and conspiracy to murder. Mohammed Abacha is also charged with conspiracy and accessory after the fact of the same murder.

Meanwhile, Sgt. Rogers, Mr. Shofolahan, Mohammed Abdul (aka Katako), Rabo Lawal (CSP) are charged with conspiracy and murder.

Bamaiyi and James Danbaba are also linked with the attempted assassination of Abrahama Adesanya, Alex Ibru and murder of Alfred Rewane.

On the other hand, Mohammed Abacha is facing another charge for alleged corruption and enrichment but the case has been dropped because the Federal Government plans to go into a deal with the family to repatriate part of an alleged loot said to be stashed away in foreign banks.

However, Mohammed has in turn taken the government to court to stop the planned freezing of the family’s accounts.

Olumide Bajulaiye, Daily Trust (Abuja), July 2, 2002