CYNTHIA'S FOUR SUSPECTS ARRAIGNED BEFORE COURT

Four suspects were arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate Court on Monday [Aug 27] for killing a former army general's daughter, Cynthia Osokogu.

The suspects, Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Ezike Olisaeloka, 23; Orji Osita, 32; and Maduakor Chukwunonso, 25, are facing trial on an eight-count charge of felony, conspiracy, robbery and murder.

Their charge sheet stated that the suspects killed the deceased by administering her with 'Rohypnol Flunitrapezam’, binding, torturing, and strangling her.

It also stated that the suspects, along with some others at large, raped and robbed the deceased of valuables that included an International passport, a mobile phone, shoes, bags, wristwatches and jewellery.

Since the nature of Cynthia's death came to light about a week ago, so much public anger, resentment and debate has been generated over the value of the social media. The first and second defendants, Okwumo and Ezike, had earlier been paraded by the state police command, where they admitted to luring Cynthia to Lagos via the social network.

They also admitted to drugging, binding, assaulting and killing her.

Cynthia's death, according to them, was a mistake. They admitted to previously luring four other women to hotels around Festac Town, Lagos.

The third and fourth defendants, however, were said to be attendants at Oxpharm Pharmacy, also at Festac town, where the drug used on the deceased was purchased.

At the sitting, Magistrate P. Adekomaiya asked the police prosecutor, Ag. SP Chukwu Agwu to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutors (DPP). Adekomaiya ruled that the case be adjourned to October 3, 2012 for mention, pending the advice of the DPP.

Before the sitting, there was a mild drama as journalists scrambled to get shots of the defendants' faces, particularly the first and second, who had been shying away from the camera. For over 30 minutes, the scrambling continued as other members of the public attending the high-profile case hurled abuses on them.

"You are ashamed, abi. Why should you be ashamed when you are terrible human beings who deserve to die?" one woman shouted as the two suspects kept their hands tightly on their faces.

Some even dubbed the defendants "faces of shame", as the drama continued before the magistrate's arrival.