Funsho Williams’ murder: Court fixes June 30 to rule on ‘no-case submission’
A Lagos High Court presided over by Judge Ebenezer Adebajo, on Monday fixed June 30 to rule on a no-case submission by the suspected killers of Funsho Williams, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Lagos State in 2003.
The accused are Bulama Kolo, Musa Maina, David Cassidy, Tunani Sonani, Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie.
The prosecution had on May 16 closed its case during the trial and the court adjourned the case for the accused to open their defence.
But at the resumed trial of the case on Monday, the defence counsel, Agbara Okezie, made a no-case submission before the court, insisting that the accused had no case to answer.
In his application dated May 20, Mr. Okezie argued that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against any of the accused.
He submitted that the evidence of the prosecution was at best circumstantial in nature which the court could not rely on.
For a court of law to rely on such evidence, it must be compelling and irresistible, he added.
Mr. Okezie urged the court to hold that the prosecution had failed to link any of the accused to the murder of Funsho Williams, saying “there has been no legally admissible evidence against the defendants.’’
Citing Section 243 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, Mr. Okezie urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused in the absence of a prima facie case against them.
In her response, the prosecutor from the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Idowu Alakija, urged the court to dismiss the no-case submission.
She said the prosecution had sufficiently established a prima facie case against them that warrants their explanations.
The accused were first arraigned on March 1, 2013 before Justice Adebajo on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The defendants, according to the prosecution, had on or about July 27, 2006 at 34A, Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi, conspired to murder Mr. Williams.
The offences, the prosecution said, contravened Sections 316 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003. (NAN)
