Cynthia Osokogu Murder Trial stalled

Late Cynthia Osokogu

Late Cynthia Osokogu

Henry Ojelu

Cynthia Osokogu
Cynthia Osokogu

The ongoing trial of the alleged killers of Cynthia Osokogu before a Lagos High Court today suffered another setback.

The matter which was slated for hearing could not proceed as the counsel representing one of the defendants Olisaeloka Ezike, Micheal Ajayi sought for an adjournment.

Cynthia was murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, in Lagos by her Facebook friends.

The Lagos State Government had charged Okwumo Nwabufo 34; Olisaeloka Ezike, 24; Orji Osita, 33 and Ezike Nonso, 25 for her murder.

The defence counsels had on different occasions given excuses which made the court to accuse them of using delay tactics to stall the case.

Lagos Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye in his submission had opposed the application for adjournment vehemently and urged the court to discourage such excuse of defence counsels in wasting judicial time.

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Ipaye noted that the 2nd defendant had a right to exercise his constitutional right which he has done, however, he urged the court to tow the reasoning of the Court of Appeal by not allowing any form of disruption in criminal trials.

The court after several requests to the 2nd defendants counsel to proceed with cross examination, was left with no choice but to grant the application for adjournment for the last time.

It would be recalled that at the last hearing of the matter, counsel to Ezike (second defendant), Mr. Michael Ajayi had sent a letter to the court to stand the matter down till 12:30 p.m., and later called one of the lawyers that he could not make it to court again.

Justice Akinlade who was visibly annoyed by the development had queried the attitude of lawyers in the matter stressing that they are not giving the matter the kind of attention it deserves.

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.

Cynthia was murdered at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, in Lagos by her Facebook friends.

The Lagos State Government 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.

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