Two suspects in the murder of Cynthia Osokogu, Okwumo Nwabufo and Olisaeloka Ezike yesterday told a Lagos High Court how the Police forced them to admit that they killed her.
Nwabufo (34), Ezike (24), who are standing trial with Orji Osita, 33; and Ezike Nonso, 25, said they were tortured to make the statements that are being used against them.
The defendants were charged to court for Cynthia’s murder at Cosmilla Hotel in FESTAC Town, Lagos, on July 22, last year.
The late Cynthia came to Lagos on the invitation of the defendants, some of who she met on facebook.
Nwabufo and Ezike were led in evidence by their counsel, Victor Okpara and Michael Ajayi.
Nwabufo, who at the last hearing, told the court that his confessional statements were made under duress, relived how the police tortured him.
At the trial within trial to determine how the police obtained statements during investigation, Nwabufo said those who arrested him, called him a murderer and beat him up.
“On the day I was arrested, up to 20 policemen broke into my apartment and asked for my name after which they called me a murderer and started beating me.
“I was later blindfolded while I was putting on only pant and taken into their vehicle; then we drove to the police station,” he said.
He said, he asked the police to allow him contact his lawyer or relatives but they refused.
“When we got to the police station, I was taken to the Area Commander, Dan Okoro’s office who showed me a lady’s picture and asked if I knew her.
“I said yes, she is my friend and he immediately called me a murderer while he pinched the upper part of my left eye with a plier.
“I was then taken to a room where I was chained and tortured to accept whatever they (the police) told us concerning the murder,” said Nwabufo.
During the torture, he said, the police “brought out a suspect and shot him on the leg to show that they would shoot us if we do not comply”.
“One of the policemen released teargas into my left eye and I have not been able to see with it since then,” he said.
The torture, he claimed, led him to make the statements that were being dictated to him at different times.
Ezike told the court that he was also tortured and statements dictated to him.
He corroborated Nwabufo’s claim that the police shot a suspect on the leg to intimidate them to admit to Cynthia’s murder.
Justice Olabisi Akinlade adjourned the case to January 13. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Tortured you? it would ve been better if they just put a bullet in your head, unrepentant criminals.... I dnt know why they are still wasting our payers money on animals like you, you will burn in hell...
ReplyDeleteFools all of you will burn in hell, torture? I would ve put a bullet in your head....
ReplyDeleteSo what ÈŠ̝̊̅§ Ÿ̲̣̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥u̶̲̥̅̊r take on the issue.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the police did is really not the issue, the issue on ground is are they claiming they did not kill the girl? How then did the pharmacist get involved? Where they not seen entering with the lady and exiting without her on the CCTV? I do not know why these guys are still in court instead of serving their time.
ReplyDeleteWhat's ÈŠ̝̊̅§ Ÿ̲̣̣̣̥ø̲̣̣̥u̶̲̥̅̊r take? U̶̲̥̅̊ ĥλ√É› detailed what happened to U̶̲̥̅̊ tell us or possibly teLl ♍ε̲̣̣̣̥ what happen to her?
ReplyDeleteSo who killed Cynthia? What do you guys know about her torture and death? Did you invite her to Lagos? Did you book hotel for her? Did you rob her? Did you call her parents? What happened guys? Who killed Cynthia? It's not enough to say police shot someone in the leg. Police is capable of any egregious thing to get confession, Nigeria police is really really bad, there's no doubt about that. However, since you admitted Cynthia is your friend, what do you know about her death?
ReplyDeletePolice better start the investigation afresh. They got it wrong making the layman's assumption that only those who invited her to Lagos could have killed her. Lots of girls are fighting to hook up with Lagos guys and come spend sometime with them in Lagos, it doesn't make the guys killers. Our police need to be reprimanded and made to carry out more objective investigations.
ReplyDeleteNomater d torture how on earth cud u accept to be responsible for somebod's dealth if u r realy innocent. Just listen to urself,hw do u think dat saying yes will relief u if u r nt d culprit. Pls my advice to u guys is" if u r actualy responsibli,do wel n confess ur sins to God n man,recive jesus into ur life so dat as death penalty may be ur case sonest" u will hav d hope of going to hevean. Thanks
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 10:10.
ReplyDeleteYou reaction sounds like one of them or family member of the killers. Those guys would spend the rest of their years on earth in jail or firing squad belief me.
Bribe is only what we know in this country but luckily, the girl came from a strong family that can comfortably fight for justice.
You can now see the effect of untrained children, if those guys are from good homes I do not think they can do that.
Useless children from anyhow homes.
Whatever, u still did not deny that u killed her here. You u made statements under duress but u didn't denounce the murder nor did u deny it. Who una wan deceive.
ReplyDeleteU should have come out long ago screaming if u r innocent