Counsel’s absence stalls Osokogu murder trial

The trial of alleged killers of late Cynthia Osokogu at a Lagos high court in Igbosere, was stalled again on Friday by the absence of a defense counsel.

Osokogu was murdered in a hotel room at Cosmilla hotel, Lake View estate, Festac town, in Lagos during a visit to individuals she met on Facebook.

The Lagos state government then charged four accused – Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita, and Ezike Nonso – for conspiracy in masterminding her death.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, had granted bail to the first two accused while the third and fourth were ordered to be remanded in custody.

The suit, which was fixed for continuation of trial on Friday, could not go on due to the absence of counsel to the third accused, Mr Micheal Ayaji.

Ayaji earlier sent a letter to the court to stand down the matter till 12. 30 pm, but he eventually informed one of the lawyers that he would be absent in court.

Dissatisfied with the development, the trial judge called for an amendment of legal practitioners act to impose costs and punitive measures on counsels who failed to conduct their cases diligently.

She observed that on many occasions, some of the defence counsels in the case had given excuses for absenting themselves from court, prompting the court to accuse them of not giving the matter the attention it required.

Olabisi further noted that Ade Ipaye, the attorney-general of Lagos, had been in court since 9 am and was not even informed of the request to stand the matter down.

“Defense counsel could not even send a letter or an SMS to the chief law officer of the state,” she said.

“The office of the AG has so many cases to attend to; should be treated in this manner?”

The judge also expressed displeasure with defence counsel for not considering the plight of his client, who had been in custody, adding that an accused was presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“When you talk of delay in criminal trial, lawyers would accuse the court of delaying proceedings. Who is delaying this case now?” she asked.

“I think it is time for the office of the AG to amend the Legal Practitioners Act so that costs would be awarded against counsels who fail to appear and conduct their cases diligently.”

The court further observed that all the lead counsels in the matter had juniors in their chambers who could attend on their behalf.

The judge adjourned the matter to October 31 for the defence to open its case.

The offence was said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the criminal laws of Lagos state.