Lack of authorised stamp on the Director of Public Prosecutions letter of advice on the trial of the seven men accused of killing Cynthia Osokogu, stalled hearing on Monday.
The first wrong signal for the trial was that Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun of a Yaba Magistrate’s Court was absent when the case came up. But an attempt by another magistrate to hear the matter was futile as it was alleged that the DPP’s letter of advice, which had been lodged with the court was not stamped.
Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita (pharmacist), Chukwunonso Maduakor (pharmacist), and Gideon Okechukwu, had been charged with eight offences bordering on murder, rape, robbery and administering an obnoxious substance to the deceased.
They were remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The two other accused, Nonso Ezike, Olisaeloka’s younger brother, and Chinonso Ezeaka had been charged with receiving and selling Cynthia’s BlackBerry phone.
However, the police had consolidated the charges and added counts of murder, rape and false pretence to Nonso and Ezeaka’s offences. The two accused were also subsequently remanded.
While speaking with journalists, the lawyer to the two pharmacists, Chris Obiaka, cried foul and complained that his clients were languishing in prison custody for longer than usual. Obiaka said it was unfortunate that despite the fact that the DPP’s advice was ready, controversy over the DPP’s stamp would make his clients languish further in incarceration.
“At the newly fixed hearing date on November 27, they would have spent more than 90 days in prison. At the end of the day if they are discharged, would we say justice has been done? Would they ever be the same persons again?” he asked.
It would be recalled that Cynthia Osokogu was allegedly murdered in a hotel room in the FESTAC area of Lagos on July 22 by two friends she met on social media.
They were remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The two other accused, Nonso Ezike, Olisaeloka’s younger brother, and Chinonso Ezeaka had been charged with receiving and selling Cynthia’s BlackBerry phone.
However, the police had consolidated the charges and added counts of murder, rape and false pretence to Nonso and Ezeaka’s offences. The two accused were also subsequently remanded.
While speaking with journalists, the lawyer to the two pharmacists, Chris Obiaka, cried foul and complained that his clients were languishing in prison custody for longer than usual. Obiaka said it was unfortunate that despite the fact that the DPP’s advice was ready, controversy over the DPP’s stamp would make his clients languish further in incarceration.
“At the newly fixed hearing date on November 27, they would have spent more than 90 days in prison. At the end of the day if they are discharged, would we say justice has been done? Would they ever be the same persons again?” he asked.
It would be recalled that Cynthia Osokogu was allegedly murdered in a hotel room in the FESTAC area of Lagos on July 22 by two friends she met on social media.
