Lawyers express displeasure at handling of Cynthia Osokogu's murder case

Ezike Olisaeloka (23), Maduakor Chukwunonso (25) Echezona Okwumo (33) and Osita Orji (32) are standing trial before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing Osokogu on Aug. 22 in a hotel in Festac Town, Lagos.

A taxi driver, Gideon Okechukwu; and two phone dealers, Ifechukwu Ezike, 22 and Chinonso Ezeaka, 27, were also accused of complicity in the murder of the 25-year-old student of Nasarawa State University.

The police on Oct. 5 substituted the charges to 11 counts and consolidated the cases against the seven suspected killers of Cynthia, the daughter of retired Maj.-Gen. Frank Osokogu.

At the resumed hearing of the case, the magistrate, Mr Olalekan Aka-Bashorun, was said to be on annual vacation while Mrs M.O. Tanimola, who held brief for him, was also unavailable.

The defence counsel were told by the court registrar that the matter had been adjourned to Nov. 27.

Reacting to the development, the lawyers described the handling of the case as tardy.

The lawyers said that the court was not showing enough seriousness in the handling of the case.

Mr Chris Obiaka, the lawyer for Orji and Okwumo, said that the fundamental rights of his clients were not being considered.

``These young men are professionals, pharmacists; by the next adjourned date, they would have been in custody for three months.

``I won't want to preempt the DPP but I'm sure the advice would be in our favour, but these young men won't remain the same after being in custody with hardened criminals," he said.

Mr Greg Anumenechi, the counsel to Okechukwu, disclosed that the DPP’s advice was already before the court.

 
``The DPP’s advice, we learnt, is ready and is in court, but the advice was not presented on the flimsy excuse that it was not stamped.

``It doesn't have to be stamped if the authorised signature is on it. The case should not be stalled this way as it is too sensitive," he said.

The defendants are being remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons.