Cynthia Osokogu: I never met her, I only admitted guilt after being torturd by the police - 2nd defedant, Olisaeloka Chidera-Ezike

 

The case of Miss Cynthia Osokogu, who was invited from Abuja to Lagos by her boyfriend but was later killed in her hotel room by her boyfriend and others is still on going.

A defense witness   in the ongoing murder trial of Cynthia Osokogu, Olisaeloka Chidera-Ezike, yesterday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere that he never met Cynthia Osokogu in person.

The witness said he only heard about her from his uncle, Okwumo Nwabufo, who is the first defendant.

Chidera-Ezike, who is the second defendant in the murder case, said this while being cross examined by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, the prosecutor in the matter.

The defendant told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that he never saw the deceased with the first defendant and that he did not purchase the flight ticket for Cynthia to come to Lagos, as stated in the statement he wrote before the police.

He said the statement was made under duress.

He admitted going to Cosmila Hotel on July 20, 2012, with the first defendant, because he was eager to meet his girlfriend that he had said so much about.

He also said that when they got to the hotel and the first defendant made enquiries about her, they were told by the receptionist that there was nobody with such name in the hotel, adding that the first defendant insisted that the deceased was in the hotel.

Earlier, the defendant, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Michael Ajayi, said he was arrested at Nnewi in Anambra State, while on a visit to his sick grandfather.

He said he was arrested at gunpoint by two men he thought were kidnappers, adding that they took his two phones, handcuffed and bundled him into a car.

The witness said on arrival in Lagos, he was taken to Festac Police Station where the area commander slapped him after tagging him a thief, murderer.

The area commander showed him a photograph and asked him if he knew the person on the photograph and he said no.

Justice Akinlade adjourned the matter till April 28 and May 15 for continuation of trial.

He said: “After so much beating and torture, they told us to admit that we knew what happened to the deceased.”