A Lagos High court sitting in Igbosere on Monday has accused defendant’s counsels of championing delay in the trial of late Cynthia Osokogu.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade made the declaration when the first and second defendant’s counsels, Miss Mosunmola Oladapo and Mr Michael Ajayi could not produce the file of their written addresses as ordered by the court.
At the last hearing, both counsels had closed their defence for the trial within trial which was to determine how statements were obtained from the defendants.
At the resumed hearing, both counsels informed the court that they had not being able to file the written address because they couldn’t obtain the record of court proceedings, which made the Judge to accuse them of deliberately foot dragging in the matter and not also not considering their clients in prison custody.
“I followed up with the registrar to make sure that the record of court proceedings is ready but you didn’t show up to collect it” Akinlade lamented.
She instructed that the written addresses be filed and served on the prosecution in the next ten days while other responses be done in two weeks.
She adjourned the matter till Feb. 27 for adoption of written address.
The defendants, Okwumo Nwabufo 34, Olisaeloka Ezike, 24, Orji Osita, 33 and Ezike Nonso, 25, are facing trial on a six-count charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder.
The first and second defendant had at the last hearing inform the court that statements were forcefully obtained from them by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly chained and strangled 25-year-old Osokogu to death at Cosmilla Hotel, FESTAC Town, Lagos, on July 22, 2012.
The offence contravened sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.