Court adjourns murder trial until 2017

Counsel to the second defendant, Mr A. Nwachukwu, in the murder trial of Cynthia Osokogu, on Thursday sought the leave of the court to file his final written address.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade, of the Igbosere High Court, Lagos, had on Oct. 27, foreclosed the right of the second defendant, Olisaeloka Ezike, 23, to file his address.

Akinlade had made the order due to the delay by the second defendant to file his final written address.

She said that there were several adjournments by the court to enable the second defendant file his address.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osokogu was allegedly murdered on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her Facebook lover.

The defendants are Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25.

They are facing a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stealing, recklessness, negligence and possession of stolen goods.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Nwachukwu, told the court that he had a motion on notice which was seeking to regularise his written address filed out of time.

He informed the court that he had served other parties in the case with the document, a copy of which was handed to the court’s registrar but with the leave of the court.

Nwachukwu told the court that he was not the counsel handling the case from the beginning.

He said that the reason why the former counsel was not able to file the address within time was due to ill-health.

“The former lawyer handling this case was very ill. I was newly briefed, therefore, needed time to study the proceedings of the court.

“Also there were 10 witnesses in this case which I had to study their various testimonies.

“I seek the leave of this court to file a motion to regularise my final written address,” Nwachukwu said.

Other counsel in the case, the prosecutor, Mrs E. I. Alakija, the Director for Public Prosecutions, Lagos State, Mr Victor Okpara, counsel to the first defendant and Mr Chris Obiaka, for third/fourth defendants, were all present.

All the counsel in the case did not object to Nwachukwu’s prayers.

Akinlade, however, cautioned the counsel and said that the final written address was supposed to be filed in April but was not filed.

She said that the counsel filed the final address out of time without accompanying it with a motion to regularise it.

Akinlade said, “you took this court for granted and decided to sleep on your client’s rights before filing the written address and the motion to regularise it. For the interest of justice, your prayers are granted”.

She, however, said that the court could not accommodate the adoption of the addresses today, and adjourned the case till Jan. 12, 2017 for adoption of the final written addresses.

Earlier, the prosecutor informed the court that she had filed her reply to the written addresses as was instructed by the court.

She said that the business of the day was for the court to adopt the final written addresses.