Cynthia Osokogu: Failure of accused to file written address stalls trial

The trial of four persons charged with the alleged murder of Cynthia Osokogu, a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University, before an Igbosere High Court, Lagos on Monday suffered a setback.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the trial had suffered series of setback in the past due to the delay by the accused counsel in filing their written address since 2015.
Osokogu was a girl allegedly murdered by friends she met on social media on July 22, 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos.
The accused are Okwumo Nwabufor, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita and Nonso Ejike.
The accused are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, the case, which was scheduled for adoption of final written addresses, could not go on because the accused counsel, Emeka Eze, gave excuses why he could not file his address.
Eze, however, sought for more time to file the written address.
The judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, did not hide her displeasure over the delay tactic used by the accused counsel and told him to stop given flimsy excuses to delay the trial.
NAN recalls that during hearing in August 2015 the judge had threatened to send the fourth accused, Nonso Ezike, back to prison for deliberately stalling the trial.
Akinlade, however, adjourned the case till June 8 for the adoption of written addresses.
NAN.