Cynthia death: Statements were voluntarily obtained in open room – IPO

An Investigative Police Officer, Insp Joseph Edo, has told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that statements were voluntarily obtained from the suspected killers of Miss Cynthia Osokogu in an open room.

The accused, Okwumo Nwabufo 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33; and Ezike Nonso, 25, were charged to court by  Lagos State.
Led-in-evidence by the Attorney-General of LagosState, Mr Ade Ipaye, yesterday, at the trial within trial, Edo explained that the statements were voluntarily obtained during investigation of  Cynthia’s murder.

The accused  allegedly chained and strangled 25-year-old Osokogu to death at Cosmilla Hotel, FESTACTown, Lagos, on July 22, 2012.

Edo, after being reminded that he is on oath, told the court how he knew the first and second defendants, saying “I know the first and second defendant in the murder case of one Miss Cynthia Osokogu which I am investigating.”
He added: “On April 20th, after their arrest, I brought the second defendant to my seat and gave him a statement form to fill after which I cautioned him in English language in the presence of my team members.

”I also asked for his educational qualification and he said he could write so I gave him a biro and told him to start with his auto-biography which he did, read over it and signed.

”In the company of my team members, we were then instructed to follow the DSP, Mr Imoh, to the Area Commander’s office also the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Dan Okoro which we did.

”When we got there, Mr Imoh handed over the statements to the ACP which he read to the first and second defendants and asked them how they carried out the act.”

Edo further told the court that he was then ordered by the ACP to go get a video recorder when he noticed that what they were saying was contained in the statement.

”I went out of the station and called one Mr Emmanuel Peters from his shop who followed me to the station and did the recording after the ACP made it clear to the first and second defendants that they were being recorded.”