Suspects were charged with conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, rape, “unlawful administration of obnoxious substance” and “forceful administration of obnoxious substance” with a view to causing bodily harm.
FOUR young men held for allegedly murdering Cynthia Osokogu Udoka, the daughter of a retired Maj.-Gen. of the Nigerian Army were yesterday arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Yaba, Lagos, by the police.
The trial magistrate subsequently ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The suspects are Okwumo Echezona Nwabufo (33), Ejike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka (23), Orji Osita (32) and Maduakor Chukwunonso (25).
Magistrate O. S. Aka Bashorun said they should be remanded in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos, after an eight-count charge brought against them by the police was read to them and the case was adjourned to October 3 for mention.
Their plea was not taken. The magistrate only asked if they understood the charge after it was read to them, to which they answered yes.
They were charged with conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, rape, “unlawful administration of obnoxious substance” and “forceful administration of obnoxious substance” with a view to causing bodily harm.
By the charge marked TA/52/2012, signed by Chukwu Agwu (Assistant Superintendent of Police), the accused persons’ alleged offences are punishable under Sections 221, 231, 237, 241, 258, 295 and 409 of the “Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”
In count one, they were alleged to have, between “2100 hours of July 21, 2012 and 12 hours of July 22, 2012 at Room C1, Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Festac Town, Lagos, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder.”
Count two accused them of unlawfully killing “one Cynthia Osokogu Udoka ‘f’ aged 25 years by administering her with obnoxious substance known as Rohypnol Flunitrazepam tablets via a Ribena fruit juice drink, binding her hands with chain, padlocking and cello-taping her legs, neck and mouth, giving her fist blows all over her body, giving her several human bites, tortured and strangled her to death.”
In count three, they were also accused of conspiring among themselves to commit felony to wit: armed robbery. The police, in count four, accused them of robbing Cynthia of her personal items while being armed with “obnoxious substances and other offensive weapons.”
Some of the items allegedly stolen from the deceased include one Bold Five model of Blackberry handset, international passport marked A012493997 dated July 3, 2009; pairs of shoes, a hand bag, artificial sex toy vibrator, jewelry pack containing three wrist watches, four rings, three pairs of earrings, one pendant, one necklace, hand chain (bangle) and a single earring.
They were accused in count five of conspiring among themselves to rape the deceased. In count six, they were accused of unlawfully having sexual intercourse with the deceased without her consent.
In count seven, they were alleged to have, “with intent to facilitate the commission of felony, did unlawfully administer an obnoxious substance known as Rohypnol Flunitrazepam tablets, purchased at Oxpharm Pharmacy, 32 Road, Festac Town, Lagos, on Cynthia Osokogu Udoka.”
They were in count eight alleged to have, ”with intent to harm, did unlawfully cause an obnoxious substance known as Rohypnol Flunitrazepam tablets to be administered on Cynthia Osokogu Udoka against her consent and caused her grievous harm.”
Source: Guardian
