Cynthia Osokogu; Judge Accuses Lawyers Of Stalling Murder Trial

Cynthia Osokogu; Judge Accuses Lawyers Of Stalling Murder Trial

By Gbenga Soyele

— Jun 9, 2016 10:25 am | Leave a comment

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos State High Court yesterday accused the defence counsel in the ongoing trial of four men, who allegedly murdered Cynthia Osokogu postgraduate student of Nassarawa State University, of deliberately stalling the trial.

The judge made the allegation after layers to the four accused persons for the umpteen time failed to file their final written addresses as directed by the court on three different occasions.
The late Osokogu was murdered on the 22nd of July, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos by men she met and became friends with on popular social media platform, Facebook.
Those accused of the crime are Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33; and Ezike Nonso, 25, they were arraigned before the court on a six count charge of conspiracy, robbery and murder brought against them by the Lagos State state.
The alleged offences contravened sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The trial, which has suffered series of adjournment due to the defendants, was earlier adjourned to Wednesday by Justice Akinlade for the adoption of final written addresses.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, counsel to the second defendant Emeka Eze, told the court that he took ill and so he could not complete the written address and file before the court as at when due.
He said that he had ulcer, that the illness came suddenly and he couldn’t continue with the writing, serving and filing of the written address.
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