Cynthia Osokogu: Lagos DPP Explains Discrepancy In Legal Advice

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, has clarified the two seemingly conflicting  legal advice given by her office to the judiciary with regard to suspects in the alleged murder of Cynthia Osokogwu, daughter of a retired army general.

A judge at the Lagos High court, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, had freed four of the suspects implicated in the death of Miss Osokogu.

Two of them, Orji Osita and Maduakor Chukwunonso, were pharmacists who worked at the store where the drug Rohpynol Flunitrazepam used on the deceased by her assailants were bought.

Justice Onigbanjo had to order their release based on a motion filed by the duo on the strength of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP’s advice dated November 1, 2012 and an affidavit of response filed by the office of the DPP to the motion of the pharmacists.

However, a Chief Magistrate at the Yaba Magistrates’ Court, Mr. S. O. Aka-  Bashorun ordered  the re-arrest of one the pharmacists,  Osita on the strength  of another DPP’s advice dated 16 November, 2012, with reference number LJP/HOM/2012/143/30, which prescribed the prosecution of Orji Osita on the offence of recklessness and negligence, which contravenes section 249 of the criminal laws No. 11 of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.