Defendant Seeks Leave To File Final Address In Cynthia Osokogu’s Murder Case

The counsel to second defendant Mr A. Nwachukwu, Olisaeloka Ezike, in the ongoing trialof Cynthia Osokogu’s alleged murder, yesterday sought the leave of the court to file his final written address.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade, of the Igbosere High Court, Lagos, had on October 27, foreclosed the right of the second defendant to file his address. Akinlade had ordered that the second defendant’s right to file his address be closed due to the delay in filing the address adding that there were several adjournments by the court to enable the second defendant file his address.
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, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita, and Ezike Nonso. They are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday 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 documents, however, the court’s copy was handed to the court’s registrar in the court, but with the leave of 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.