THE son of Nigeria’s late military ruler General Sani Abacha, a top security aide and fellow defendants were charged on Thursday with the murder of the wife of late opposition politician Moshood Abiola. Mohammed Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha and three others were charged in a packed Lagos magistrate’s court with the June 1996 killing of Kudirat Abiola. Security was tight for the one-hour hearing, with armoured police vehicles ringing the court after fears that the accused could be attacked. Presiding Judge Justice Dele Gbogodo refused an application for bail but granted a request from defence lawyers for the accused to be detained in Ikoyi prison, Lagos, and for the lawyers to be granted access. He adjourned the case until November 17.