The trial of alleged killers of late Cynthia Osokogu, on Friday suffered another setback before a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, Lagos, following the absence of a defense counsel. The four accused, Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita, and Ezike Nonso, were charged by Lagos State Government for conspiracy in masterminding the death of Osokogu who they met on facebook . They had however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, had granted bail to the first two accused while the third and fourth where ordered to be remanded in custody.
The suit which was fixed for continuation of trial on Friday could not go on due to the absence of counsel to the third accused, Mr Micheal Ayaji.
Ayaji, who had earlier sent a letter to the court to stand down the matter till 12. 30 p.m., eventually informed one of the lawyers that he would no longer be present in court.
Dissatisfied with the development, the trial judge called for an amendment of Legal Practitioners Act, so as to impose costs and punitive measure on counsels who failed to conduct their cases diligently.
She observed that some of the defense counsels in the case had on different occasions given excuses for not coming to court, and the court had accused them of not giving the matter the attention it required.
Olabisi further noted that the Attorney-General (AG) of Lagos State, Mr Ade Ipaye, had been in court since 9 a.m., and was not even informed of the request to stand the matter down.
“Defense counsel could not even send a letter or an SMS to the Chief Law Officer of the State.
“The office of the AG has so many cases to attend to and so, should he be treated in this manner,’’ she said.
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