Lagos, Dec. 8, 2016
(NAN) Counsel to the second defendant, Mr A. Nwachukwu, in the murder trial of
Cynthia Osokogu, on Thursday sought the leave of the court to file
his final
written address.
Justice Olabisi
Akinlade, of the Igbosere High Court, Lagos, had on Oct. 27, foreclosed the
right of the second defendant, Olisaeloka Ezike, 23, to file his address.
Akinlade had made
the order due to the delay by the second defendant to file his final written
address.
She said that there
were several adjournments by the court to enable the second defendant file his
address.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that 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, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25.
They are facing a
six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stealing, recklessness,
negligence and possession of stolen goods.
At the resumed
hearing on Thursday, 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 document, a copy of which
was handed to the court’s registrar but with the leave of the 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.
Other counsel in the
case, the prosecutor, Mrs E. I. Alakija, the Director for Public Prosecutions,
Lagos State, Mr Victor Okpara, counsel to the first defendant and Mr Chris
Obiaka, for third/fourth defendants, were all present.
All the counsel in
the case did not object to Nwachukwu’s prayers.
Akinlade, however,
cautioned the counsel and said that the final written address was supposed to
be filed in April but was not filed.
She said that the
counsel filed the final address out of time without accompanying it with a
motion to regularise it.
Akinlade said, “you
took this court for granted and decided to sleep on your client’s rights before
filing the written address and the motion to regularise it. For the interest of
justice, your prayers are granted”.
She, however, said
that the court could not accommodate the adoption of the addresses today, and
adjourned the case till Jan. 12, 2017 for adoption of the final written
addresses.
Earlier, the
prosecutor informed the court that she had filed her reply to the written
addresses as was instructed by the court.
She said that the
business of the day was for the court to adopt the final written addresses.
(NAN)
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