10th October, 2014
Akin Kuponiyi
The ongoing trial of the alleged killers of Cynthia Osokogu before a Lagos High Court was again stalled today as the lawyer to one of the defendants failed to show-up in court.
Consequently not pleased with this lackadaisical approach, the trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade called for the amendment of Legal Practitioners Act, so that costs and punitive measure could be taken against counsel that failed to appear and conduct their cases diligently.
The defence counsel had on different occasions given excuses for not coming to court which made the court to accuse them of using delay tactics to stall the case.
Cynthia was murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, in Lagos by her Facebook friends. Lagos state had charged Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33 and Ezike Nonso, 25, to court two years ago for conspiracy and murder of Cynthia.
At the resumed hearing of the case this morning lawyer to Ezike (second defendant), Mr. Michael Ayaji who had earlier sent a letter to the court to stand the matter down till 12:30 p.m., later called one of the lawyers that he could not make it to court again.
Justice Akinlade who was visibly annoyed by this development queried the attitude of lawyers in the matter stressing that they are not giving the matter the kind of attention it deserves.
The court further observed that the Attorney General of Lagos, Mr Ade Ipaye who was in court as early as 9:00 a.m. was not informed of the request to stand the matter down.
“He could not even send a letter or an SMS to the Chief Law office of the State. The office of AG has so many cases to attend to, so how can you treat a whole Attorney General of the State like that? You don’t even have feelings for your clients who have been in prison since commencement of trial. At least they are still presumed innocence until proven guilty,” the court declared.
“When you talk of delaying in criminal justice, lawyers would be accusing the court of delaying trial, who is delaying this case now? Out of my tight schedule, I have come here. This case is competing with well over 400 other cases in my court and I have given it priority of time. So, why should counsel be delaying this matter for God’s sake? I think it’s time for the office of AG to amend the Legal Practitioners Act so that costs would be awarded against counsel that failed to appear and conduct their cases diligently.
The court further observed that all the lead counsel in the matter have juniors in their chambers, adding that, the court and the office of Attorney General should be accorded respect they deserved.
Consequently the case was adjourned till October 31 and November 4 respectively for the defendants to open their defence.