Court adjourns for final argument in Cynthia’s murder case

A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has adjourned till November 16, 2015 for adoption of final written addresses in the murder case of Cynthia Osokogu. Osokogu, then 25 years old, and a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University, was on July 22, 2012 murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos. The deceased was said to have been lured to Lagos by a supposed Facebook lover before she was robbed, chained and strangled to death in the hotel room by the assailants. Since February 2013, four men – Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita and Ezike Nonso – have been standing trial over Cynthia’s murder. The men are facing six counts bordering on conspiracy, felony, robbery and murder. The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions alleged that the suspects murdered Osokogu by administering Rohypnol Flunitrazepan tablet into her drink, chaining her hands and legs and strangling her to death. The DPP, which opened its case immediately after the arraignment of the defendants on February 8, 2013, had since September 19, 2014 closed its case and left the floor open for the defence to open its case. The case had, however, thereafter been severally stalled at the instance of the defence and often to the annoyance of the trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade. The judge on Monday has however fixed November 16, 2015 for both the prosecution and the defence to adopt their final written addresses and canvass final, summary arguments, after which the matter will be adjourned for judgment. Akinlade ordered the counsel for the third and fourth defendants, Chris Obama, to file a joint written address while the prosecution was ordered to file a comprehensive written addresses replying to all. In the charge filed against the defendants, the Lagos DPP alleged that they chained and strangled Osokogu to July 22, 2012. The defendants were accused of acting contrary to sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011. But they had pleaded not guilty and also denied willingly volunteering a confessional statement to the police.