Lagos Court Reopens Late Funsho Williams' Murder Case

The case of the murder of former Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams has been re-opened before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to reports from the Punch, one Bashir Junaid who is the applicant, approached the court for the second time after the first suit had been struck out on April 29, 2015 by Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia for want of diligent prosecution.

The judge this time allowed the suit to be returned onto the cause list after entertaining a fresh motion and argument from the plaintiff’s counsel, Tunji Adesheye, on Monday.

Junaid, a cemetery attendant, who was arrested and detained by the police during preliminary investigation into Williams’ murder, filed the suit seeking a mandamus order compelling the Inspector General of Police to conduct fresh investigation with the possibility of a fresh trial.

The applicant, who is seeking N5 billion as exemplary damages, joined a former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and 10 others as the respondents.

In his 48-рaragraph ѕtаtеmеnt of сlаim, Junaid alleged that the police disregarded his freely made statement, which could have assisted them to know who killed Williams. He claimed that the concrete evidence that he tendered was diѕcarded by the Federal Central Invеѕtigаtiоnѕ Dераrtmеnt, Alagbon, Lagos.

Junaid, alleged that Tinubu used his influence with the police to exonerate himself, and accused the police of compromise by allegedly allowing the legal adviser to the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Muiz Banire, to change his statement after he had been cautioned.

It can be recalled that the late Williams, was strangled to death in his Dolphin Estate residence, in Ikoyi, Lagos, on July 27, 2006 - a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned till September 29, 2015.

Source: Punch