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.
source: nigerianeye
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