MURDER OF ANENE UTAZI IN LADIPO MARKET: LAGOS LINES UP 37 WITNESSES

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government says it has 37 witnesses which it will line up in court during the trial of Monday Lawrence and others for the murder of Anene Utazi at Ladipo Market, Lagos.

Monday Lawrence and others still at large are before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of a Lagos High Court over the murder of Utazi in 2016.
The state alleged that Monday Lawrence and others still at large on February 18, 2016 at Odo-Aladura, Ladipo Mushin murdered Utazi.

Lawrence who has since been granted bail was also alleged to have inflicted grievousmatchet cut on about five other traders at the market. Last week, Ladipo market union leaders through their lawyer, Barr. Monday Ubani petitioned the Lagos Attorney-General raising concerns that the matter was not been handle properly.

Ubani claimed that the defendant was granted bail in a suspicious circumstances while several witnesses due to testify before the court are been harassed and threatened by the defendant.

At the last proceedings of the matter, defence team led by Mrs R. O Aroyewun informed the court that AG Adeniji Kazeem has indicated interest to personally handle the prosecution of the defendant.

Aroyewun also told the court that 37 witnesses are ready to testify in the trial.

” My Lord, the Attorney-General has expressed interest to personally handle this matter. Our witnesses are 37 and they are ready to testify before the court,” she said.

However Aroyewun appealed to the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution sought some few issues with the witnesses. The defendant lawyer, Mr. Spurgeon Ataene did not oppose the application for adjournment.

Before announcing the new trial date, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo asked the prosecution team to streamline the large number of witnesses listed for the trial. The trial judge subsequently adjourned the matter to June 21, 2017 for trial.