Nigeria has
witnessed the gruesome murder of many people associated with politics within
the democratic and military administration. Funsho Anthony Williams belonged to
the class of those murdered during the 4th republic in Lagos State.
Williams was
referred to as the ‘Omoluabi Eko’ meaning the Gentleman of Lagos. He was born,
May 9, 1948. He he attended the St. Paul's Catholic school, Ebute-Meta; St.
Gregory College, Ikoyi before proceeding to the University of Lagos for his Bachelors’
degree in Civil Engineering. Upon completion, he went to the New Jersey Institute
of Technology, United States of America for his Masters’ degree.
He returned to
work for the Lagos State Government and he retired willing after 17 years as a
Permanent Secretary to join politics. He became a Commissioner for Works under
Colonel Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s military administration.
As typical of
Nigerian politicians, he started out with the United Nigeria Congress Party in
the mid-1990s; he joined Alliance for Democracy at the death of General Sani Abacha;
he stepped down for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to become the Governor of Lagos;
thereafter he joined the People’s Democratic Party in 2003 after President
Olusegun Obasanjo won the President election on the platform of the party
before he met his untimely death on July 27, 2006 at his Ikoyi residence.
The Inspector
General of Police (IGP) at the time of his death was Sunday Ehindero while the
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) was Adebayo Adeoye. Adeoye in a statement after
inspecting his residence said his body was lying face down, hands tied,
blindfolded and blood was on the floor. The four policemen at his residence and
six other suspects namely Bulama Kolo; Musa Maina; David Cassidy; Tunani
Sonani; Mustapha Kayode and Okponwasa Imariabie were arrested.
The investigation
of the death of Williams was not handled by the Nigerian Police Force alone,
British detectives were involved to unravel his assassins. However, Prof John
Obafunwa, the Chief Forensic Pathologist of Lagos State testified before the
court that his death resulted from asphyxia (lack of oxygen) due to manual
strangulation.
He was buried
at Victoria Court Cemetery in August 2006 with mammoth crowd that can be akin to that of Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe;
Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo; Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola. Seven months
after his death, the Lagos State Government immortalized him by naming the
former Western Avenue after him in February 2007. Although the political class
cannot be vindicated entirely from his death, political bigwigs were mentioned
at different points in connection with his death.
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| The late Funsho Williams |
The death of Funsho
Williams remained one of the many deaths that had not been resolved over the
years. Lagos State had witnessed high profile politicians; some of them include
Pa Alfred Rewane; Alhaja Kudirat Abiola; Engr Adesoji Dina and many other
people. Nigerians want a thoroughly developed forensic unit of the police force
that can unravel murder cases and an effective judicial system
First published onNigerian Reporter