FACEBOOK KILLER FRIENDS OF CYNTHIA OSOKOGU SENTENCED TO DEATH

The Killers of Cynthia Osokogu, the Nasarawa State University postgraduate student murdered by her Facebook friends, Okwumo Nwabufo and Olisaeloka Ezike have been sentenced to death by a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere.

Cynthia Osokogu was allegedly killed on July 22, 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 January 12, 2017, during the adoption of the final written addresses by all the counsel in the case fixed March 23, for judgement on the case.

It will also be recalled that the murder trial began on February 8, 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.

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.