Attempted murder: Appeal Court grants bus driver bail

[Mirror]

More than one year after his detention at Ikoyi prisons, the Court of Appeal yesterday granted bail to a 32-year-old commercial bus driver charged with attempted murder of a Lagos High Court judge, Justice Ebenezer Adebajo.

Quadri Kasali was first arraigned at a Tinubu Magistrate's Court, Lagos, on March 9, 2012, for attempted murder of Justice Adebajo, but he pleaded not guilty.

He was denied bail by Chief Magistrate M.A Ladipo who ordered him remanded in prison custody.

Also, his bail application before Justice Christopher Balogun of the Lagos High Court was dismissed on the ground that there was no particular address attached to the application and that there was no concrete evidence that he would show up for trial.

Dissatisfied, Kasali, through his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), appealed against the ruling and urged the Court of Appeal to grant him bail.

The appellate court in its ruling delivered by Justice Shagbaor Ikyegh held that the offence of attempted murder with which he was charged was bailable.

The court granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must have landed property in Lagos State. They are to file an affidavit of means.

The court noted that the appellant is presumed innocent until proved guilty, adding that there were no facts in the counter affidavit of the respondent (Lagos State) disputing the fact that he is a first time offender

The court held that it is the duty of the respondent to bring facts before the court that would show that the appellant would not attend his trial.

Meanwhile, Justice Balogun has adjourned till September 20, Kasali's application to quash the charge levelled against him.

But a state counsel, Femi Adamson, opposed the application.

He urged the court to dismiss the defence counsel's submission in its entirety because it lacks merit.

According to the charge sheet, Kasali on March 1, 2012 was driving a commercial bus marked XA 242 KLK at Moloney Street, Lagos Island, at about 2:20pm where he obstructed other road users.

National Mirror