Kudirat Abiola: Lagos Under Fire Over Botched Murder Case

The Lagos State Government has come under intense public criticism following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike out the murder case of late pro-democracy activist, Mrs Kudirat Abiola, after the state reportedly abandoned its appeal for nearly nine years.

The apex court, in its ruling, held that the prolonged inaction by the Lagos State Government amounted to a lack of diligence and interest in pursuing the matter, leading to the final closure of the case. The judgment effectively ends all legal proceedings linked to the assassination of Kudirat Abiola, who was killed in June 1996 during Nigeria’s military era.

Kudirat Abiola, wife of the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, was a prominent figure in the struggle against military dictatorship. Her assassination in Lagos shocked the nation and became one of the most symbolic crimes of the era.

Legal analysts and civil society groups have expressed outrage over the development, describing it as a grave miscarriage of justice and a stain on the country’s judicial and political institutions. Critics argue that the failure of successive Lagos State administrations to actively pursue the appeal reflects institutional negligence and a lack of commitment to justice for victims of politically motivated crimes.

Human rights organisations say the case’s collapse has reopened old wounds and undermined confidence in Nigeria’s justice system, especially for families of victims of state-era violence. They also warn that the outcome may embolden impunity, as high-profile cases are allowed to fade through bureaucratic neglect.

Reacting to the ruling, some legal practitioners noted that the Supreme Court’s decision was based strictly on procedural grounds, stressing that courts cannot keep cases alive indefinitely when the prosecuting authority fails to act.

Despite the ruling, renewed calls have been made for historical accountability, with activists urging the federal and state governments to ensure that lessons from the Kudirat Abiola case are not forgotten.

Kudirat Abiola remains a powerful symbol of resistance and sacrifice in Nigeria’s democratic history, and many Nigerians say the manner in which her case ended raises troubling questions about justice, governance, and the political will to confront the past.