Cynthia Osokogwu murder: I never requested the purchase of any drug - Defendant tells court

A defendant, Okwumo Nwabufor, on Friday told an Igbosere High Court, Lagos that he never ordered the purchase of the drug, Ryhophnol that was used to drug the late Cynthia Osokogwu

Nwabufor, 34, spoke while being cross-examined by Mr Chris Obiaka, the counsel to the third defendant in the case, Orji Osita.

``I never asked the third defendant to purchase any drug for me neither did I purchase any drug,’ ’ he said.

Nwabufor is standing trial before Justice Olabisi Akinlade, alongside Olisa Chidera, 24, Osita, 33 and Ejike Ifechukwu, 25.

The men were accused of the July 22, 2012 murder of their Facebook friend, Miss Cynthia Osokogwu, a businesswoman, at Cosmilla Hotel, Lake View Estate, Festac Town, Lagos.

Nwabufor also told the court that he had late Osokogwu's Blackberry phone in his possession because she gave him the phone to repair and sell for her.

``Cynthia asked me to repair and sell her Blackberry phone for her and I gave the phone to the fourth defendant (Ifechukwu).

``He did not know that the phone belonged to Cynthia,’’ he said.

Earlier during the trial, Mr Michael Ajayi, the counsel to Chidera, the second defendant, requested that the proceedings of the court be stayed pending the outcome of an appeal he had filed at the Appeal Court.

``I humbly request that the proceedings of this honourable court be stayed pending the outcome of an appeal filed at the Court of Appeal,’’ he said.

Ajayi also declined the court's request to cross-examine Nwabufor, saying he was not ready.

``In view of the outcome of this ruling, I need a further date to cross-examine the first defendant,’’ he said.

The prosecution, led by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Ade Ipaye, however, opposed Ajayi's application for a stay in the proceedings.

``There cannot be a stay of proceedings in a criminal trial on account of an interlocutory appeal,’’ Ipaye said.

In her ruling, Akinlade rejected Ajayi's application on the basis that justice must be served speedily.

``A stay in this case will cause unnecessary delays in court proceedings,’’ she said.

Nwabufor, when giving evidence before the court on Oct. 31, claimed that the late Osokogwu was his lover and they had plans to get married.

However, when he was cross-examined by the prosecution, he claimed not to have a Facebook account or to have met Osokogwu online.

Nwabufor, when questioned about his claim that he and Osokogwu were lovers, could not also say what she studied at the university, neither could he recall the name of her friends, hometown or date of birth.

Justice Akinlade adjourned the trial till Jan. 16, 2015 for continuation of defence.