Cynthia Osokogu’s killers to die by hanging
A Lagos State High Court in Igbosere yesterday sentenced two men, Okwumo Nwabufo and Olisaeloka Ezike to death by hanging for the 2012 killing of Cynthia Osokogu.
Osokogu, 25, was the daughter of a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army who was allegedly murdered by her Face Book friends in July 2012 at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate in Festac, Lagos.
Before her death she was a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University.
The two convicts were in February 8, 2013 arraigned alongside Orji Osita, and Ezike Nonso for the murder. They were arraigned on a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, recklessness, negligence and possession of stolen goods.
During the trial, the prosecutor led by the former Lagos State Attorney General, Ade Ipaye called 10 witnesses who testified against the convicts.
Five years after the incident, the court presided over by Justice Olabisi Akintade in a judgment which lasted more than four hours sentenced the two of the accused as charged.
After the pleas of the defendants for mercy, Justice Akinlade said: “Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State says clearly that a person who commits murder shall be sentenced to death. In judgment, justice is required not only for the victim, but also for the society. In their attempt to steal Cynthia’s property, they stole her life. They were not even remorseful. But for the efforts of the police and the ministry of justice we wouldn’t have been able to do anything. This court cannot change the law.”
In specifying the judgment, she said, “I pronounce the judgment of this court upon you: Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike. Both of you should be hanged by the neck till you are dead. May the lord have mercy on your soul.”
She however discharged and acquitted the two other accused persons, Orji Osita, a pharmacist who was said to have sold the drug the convicts used to subdue the deceased and a brother to one of the convicts, Ezike Nonso who was said to have received the stolen phones of the deceased.