A former Commissioner for Special Duties in Lagos State, Dr. Tola Kasali, has appeared before an Ebute Magistrate Court on charges of Conspiracy, murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Detectives from the Department of Criminal Investigation, of the Nigeria Police, Lagos Command, Panti, Yaba, charged Dr. Kasali to court on Tuesday according to reports by Channels TV.
Dr. Kasali, 62, who is also vying for the State governorship ticket to contest in the 2015 election under the platform of All Progressive Congress, was charged alongside Folami Musiliu, 65, a Special Adviser to the Lagos state government, and Tobun Abiodun Lukman, 35, a Chief Security Officer to one of the political bigwigs in the state.
The three men were alleged to have conspired among themselves and with some others now at large, to kill one Musiliu Ogboye Lamidi, on November 9, at Akodo area of Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos.
They were also alleged to have been in possession of a pump action Avar Magnum gum with number 6381, without appropriate authority.
Though the charges were read to the accused persons, their pleas were not taken and the police said the charges were punishable under sections 231, 211, 409 and section 27 (b)(1) of the firearm Act. Cap 28 laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2011.
The police prosecutors, Mr G. O. Osuji, Nosa N., and Inspector George Nwosu, had informed the court that there was an application for the remand of the accused persons pending when an advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) would be received.
A Senior State Counsel, Mr Femi Adamson, who announced his appearance as a prosecutor in the matter, also informed the court of the state government’s wish to take over the prosecution of the case from the police.
After a brief argument, the police conceded to the State Counsel’s request and stepped aside.
Just A Mere Rumour
Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Taiwo Ajala, however, urged the court to grant the accused persons bail on self-recognition because of their social status.
He told the court that the first accused, (Folami Musiliu), is a Special Adviser to the Lagos state government, and the second accused, (Tola Kasali), was a former Commissioner for Rural Development, and later for Special Duties, while the third accused (Tobun A. Lukman), is a Chief Security Officer to a political bigwig in the state.
He said the charges against them was just a mere rumour and that the accused persons were presumed to be innocent until otherwise proven by the law court.
Mr Ajala further stated that remanding the accused persons would draw back the service they rendered to the state.
Following this submission, the chief magistrate in his ruling said: “The court sees the accused persons as those who will uphold the law and order of the land, hence, the court has confidence in their ability to show up in court when they are needed.
“So, they are hereby granted bail on self-recognition”.
The Chief Magistrate, however, ordered the prosecution to duplicate the case file and forward it to DPP for advice, while the matter was adjourned till December 11.
Hmmm! Nigerian politics with name-calling. Why is now the appropriate time to frame up charges of such heinous crime as murder against a contender for the gubernatorial seat in the State? I don’t know Tola Kasali from Adam other than as I know others and I’m not one of his sympathisers but I only observe that this is beyond a search for justice. I don’t see seriousness in the prosecution as the police headed to a wrong court: a magistrate has no jurisdiction on capital offence, and I wonder how many times the Supreme Court would warn them that the doctrine of holding charge is alien to our jurisprudence. I bet it, they will fight over jurisdiction and use every delay tactics known to them to prevent Kasali from effectively participating in the election. Yet in the end the man would be acquitted (even if truly there is enough evidence in possession of the prosecution to justify a verdict of guilt). Their aim is not to have the man hanged even if he deserves it, but to eliminate him from the guber race (simply because it is not yet his turn, according to the rotation formula by the power that be). Mr. Kasali, why not withdraw from the guber race and have these charges withdrawn against you? Why not appease the power that be, so that they look upon you with eyes of favour? Why not wait for your turn on the rotation formula? Nigerian politics is not an Oyingbo market nor Idumota market but one of BLACKEST market which your mum should not know you deal in.
Emanon, thanks for your well written observation. You shed more light on the legal errors already in place. Thanks for this. Just like you, I don’t know the guy. However, why wasn’t another governorship aspirant put in the frame, why Dr Tola Kasali? I have been following the elections closely and I can inform you that Dr Tola Kasali is not even one of the high fliers, hence there wouldn’t be any need for his elimination from the race. If you had mentioned Akinwunmi Ambode for instance, I would have had to concede to your conspiracy theory.
On another point, if we all run away from the BLACKEST market as you have painted it, what hope does this country have with bright minds such as yours? What frustrates me Emanon is the choice a majority of Nigerians make. They have opinions and brilliant ideas on the path the country should take, yet take a noncommittal stance. How does that work? It baffles me. We want change, yet we don’t want to participate either in canvassing for the right candidate to occupy a position or vowing to sacrifice a day to exercise its civic right to vote. And we expect not to have MUGS ruling Nigeria?