Miss Cynthia Osokogu
By Victor Efeizomor and Akinwale Akintunde
It was an emotion-laden moment Friday at the country home of the Osokogus in Boji-Boji Owa (Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State) when late Miss Cynthia Osokogu was buried.
Cynthia, 25, who was a post-graduate student at the Nasarawa State
University and daughter of a retired Major-General, was allegedly killed
by her facebook friends after she was drugged and raped at a hotel in
Festac Town in Lagos, last July.
Also Friday, Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun of Yaba Magistrate’s
Court expressed dissatisfaction with the slow-pace of the trial of
alleged killers of Cynthia and urged the prosecutors to fast track the
proceedings.
As early as 8:30am, a crowd comprising family members, friends, and
community leaders started streaming into the compound of the Osokogus
awaiting the arrival of Cynthia’s body.
Her remains arrived at about 2.25pm and were received by her father,
Major General Frank Osokogu. Cynthia’s mother, Joy was not present
during the burial.
Thereafter, Reverend Father Leonard Biachi conducted a brief funeral
mass, after which she was laid to rest. Tears flowed freely when the
gravediggers began to hurl sand into the grave.
Her father, while fielding questions from journalist shortly after the
burial said the exit of Cynthia had created a vacuum in the family that
will be difficult to fill, adding that the family is optimistic of
getting justice "now that the cases is in court."
He expressed appreciation to local and international media for the wide
coverage and prominence that followed the murder of Cynthia, adding
that it had helped to reawaken his confidence in the role of the press
in the society.
It has been a long, painful wait for the Osokogus to put a closure on
the matter. Initial plan to bury their late daughter on September 7 was
stalled by the non-release of the corpse by the police in Lagos.
At the hearing of the murder case in Lagos yesterday, the Magistrate
said there had been very little or no progress since the suspected
killers were arrested and arraigned.
"Let us make progress in this matter. By now I expected the office of
the Director of Public Prosecution to be present in court," said
Magistrate Aka-Bashorun.
The defence counsels had earlier also complained that the prosecution appeared to be delaying the proceedings.
While urging the court to compel the prosecutors to show cause why the
defendants should not be released on bail having spent more than 30 days
in custody, the defence counsels submitted that the Criminal Justice
Law of Lagos State empowers the court to summon the DPP to tell the
court why the suspects should still be in prison custody.
Responding, the prosecutors, led by Superintendent Chukwu Agwu told the
court they were doing all they could to facilitate speedy hearing of
the matter.
According to him, the case file had been transferred to the office of
the DPP and that he was merely waiting for the DPP advice.
Meanwhile, the prosecutors have consolidated the three charges pending before the court.
The charges were read to the defendants but their pleas were not taken.
Magistrate Aka-Bashorun while adjourning the matter to November 5, for
mention, also ordered that all the defendants be remanded in prison
custody.
In the new charge, the suspects, Okwumo Nwabufo 33; Ezike Olisaeloka
23; Orji Osita 32, Maduakor Chukwunonso 25 and Gideon Okechukwu are now
facing a nine-count charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder of
Cynthia Osokogu.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects killed the deceased by
administering ‘Rohypnol Flunitrapezam’, on her and also binding,
torturing and strangling her.
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