Okwumo Nwabufo and Olisaeloka Ezike who caused the death of Cynthia Osokogu have been sentenced to death by a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.
The duo who met Cynthia Osokogu, a Nasarawa State University postgraduate on Facebook allegedly killed her on 22nd July 2012, at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos.
However, in a judgment on Thursday, Justice Olabisi Akinlade who found the accused guilty as charged by the state sentenced them to death for murder.
The judge held that the circumstantial evidence brought by the state in proof of the six counts of conspiracy, murder and stealing against the accused persons were cogent, complete, unequivocal and compelling.
Justice Akinlade had on 12th January 2017, during the adoption of the final written addresses by all the counsel in the case fixed March 23, for judgement on the case.
The murder trial began on 8th February 2013, with the state calling the former receptionist, Ifeyinwa Njebu, at Cosmilla Suites and Hotel, Festac, who was on duty on the day of the incident as the first witness. Counsel for Orji and Nonso had requested bail for their clients and Justice Akinlade had granted bail to Orji with two sureties who must deposit N500,000 each.
She had ordered that one of the sureties must be a serving Director at Ecobank Plc and the other a licensed pharmacist. Suspected killers of Cynthia Udoka Osokogu at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.
For Nonso, Olisaeloka’s younger brother, the judge granted him bail of N2 million, with two sureties, adding that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not less than Grade Level 14 while the other must be a property owner with a genuine Certificate of Occupancy. She said that the sureties must be resident in Lagos, with evidence of tax payment dating back to three years.
