Suspect In Cynthia Osokogu’s Murder Seeks N50 Million Damages, Apology

One of the seven suspects in the death of Cynthia Osokogu, murdered in cold blood in her hotel room in Lagos, has brought a N50 million suit against the Nigeria Police for damages.

 Gideon Okechukwu, who allegedly drove the killers to the hotel, also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation in the suit in which he said that the fee would cover “general and aggravated damages.” Mr. Okechukwu, 39, also demanded a public apology to be published by the respondents in a “conspicuous portion” of a national newspaper.

 On Monday, all the suspects in the murder case were brought to the Yaba Magistrate Court where the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution was to be read. However, the court observing its annual leave meant they had to be returned to the Kirikiri Prisons until November 27, the date fixed for the court to sit.

 The police had said in its investigations that Mr. Okechukwu, an unregistered cab driver, drove Okwumo Nwabufor, a prime suspect in the murder case, and Ms. Osokogu to Cosmilla Hotel in Festac where the latter was strangled to death. The police also stated that Mr. Okechukwu usually drove Mr. Nwabufo during his numerous operations and also aids him in escaping from crime scenes.

 In the suit, deposed at the Lagos High Court, Greg Anumenechi, counsel to the suspect, denied all the claims, adding that his client has been in police detention since August 20 without being charged to court. Mr. Anumenechi also stated that the forceful seizure of his client’s Mazda 626 car is unlawful and a violation of his right.

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Again, Cynthia Osokogu's Case Suffers Set Back

Lack of authorised stamp on the Director of Public Prosecutions letter of advice on the trial of the seven men accused of killing Cynthia Osokogu, stalled hearing on Monday.

The first wrong signal for the trial was that Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun of a Yaba Magistrate’s Court was absent when the case came up. But an attempt by another magistrate to hear the matter was futile as it was alleged that the DPP’s letter of advice, which had been lodged with the court was not stamped.

Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita (pharmacist), Chukwunonso Maduakor (pharmacist), and Gideon Okechukwu, had been charged with eight offences bordering on murder, rape, robbery and administering an obnoxious substance to the deceased.

They were remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The two other accused, Nonso Ezike, Olisaeloka’s younger brother, and Chinonso Ezeaka had been charged with receiving and selling Cynthia’s BlackBerry phone.

However, the police had consolidated the charges and added counts of murder, rape and false pretence to Nonso and Ezeaka’s offences. The two accused were also subsequently remanded.

While speaking with journalists, the lawyer to the two pharmacists, Chris Obiaka, cried foul and complained that his clients were languishing in prison custody for longer than usual. Obiaka said it was unfortunate that despite the fact that the DPP’s advice was ready, controversy over the DPP’s stamp would make his clients languish further in incarceration.

“At the newly fixed hearing date on November 27, they would have spent more than 90 days in prison. At the end of the day if they are discharged, would we say justice has been done? Would they ever be the same persons again?” he asked.

It would be recalled that Cynthia Osokogu was allegedly murdered in a hotel room in the FESTAC area of Lagos on July 22 by two friends she met on social media.

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CYNTHIA’S M**RDER: Lawyers hail FG plan to ban `r**pe drug’

 Lawyers and social critics on Friday commended the Federal Government’s move to ban the sale of the ‘date rape drug’, allegedly used to k**l Miss Cynthia Osokogu.

They gave the commendation in separate interviews in Lagos.

The Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja resolved to ban the sale of rophynol drug.

`Rohypnol’, clinically known as Flunitrazepam, a sedative with hypnotic effect was used to lure late Osokogu to complacency and later k**lled.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the government planned to ban the drug because of the need to curb its disastrous use.

He said that the Act No. 43 of 1989, which established the National Drug Formulary and Essential Drugs List, empowers it to prohibit importation and manufacturing of any drug not on the list.

A Lagos based lawyer and founding member of the African in Democracy and Good Governance (ADG), Mr Edwin Nebolisa, said the decision appropriate.

He said that the ban was informed by the ugly trend of the abuse of the drug by the youths, and stressed the need to check the excesses of youths, which was becoming worrisome.

He also said that pharmacy stores and hospitals should be discouraged from dispensing such drugs because it had become a means of facilitating incidence of r**pe.

A facilitator with the Legal Defence and Assistant Project (LEDAP), Mr Noel Brown, also aligned with the decision of the government and advocated the ban of other sedative drugs.

Brown described as alarming made in which youths take to drugs in quest for adventure.

“R**pe, by its nature, constituted an act of gender violence. Employing the use of sedatives is simply devilish and must be treated with the highest level of disdain,’’ he said.

He advised parents to watch the types of company their wards keep, stressing that evil acts pollute good manners.

Mr Spurgeon Ataene, a lawyer, said that it was rather inconceivable that teenage boys had formed the habit of luring girls with the use of sedative.

“They do this to weaken their victim and get away with the heinous acts. Eventually, some of these drugs end up claiming the lives of their victims,’’ he said.

He, therefore, called for full implementation of the ban, adding that government should decisively deal with offenders who go against the policy.

In August, four accused persons, Echezona Nwabufo 33, Ejike Olisaeloka, 23, Orji Osita, 32, and Maduakor Chukwunonso, 25, were paraded by the police in Lagos for the murder of Osokogu.

They told the police, how they met, drugged and strangled their victim, in order to steal her money.

The accused, currently in prison custody, were arraigned before a Yaba Magistrates’ court in September for the offence.

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Cynthia Osokogu laid to rest in Agbor

 Agbor – Retired Major General Frank Osokogu, father of late Cynthia Osokogu, has expressed confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary, saying that he was sure justice would be done in the case of his daughter’s death.

The late Cynthia was found dead in a hotel room in Lagos on July 26, after she was declared missing by her family three days earlier. She was allegedly killed by her assailants on July 22.Four suspects, including two university undergraduates, were later arrested in connection with the incident and the case had been taken to court.

The remains of the late Cynthia were committed to earth on Friday at Owa Ekei, Agbor, Delta.Speaking to newsmen at the occasion, the father of the deceased said that he was impressed with the way the investigation and court process of his late daughter were handled.

He commended the police for what he described as “wonderful job so far’’, and urged the force to always rise to occasions that needed its professionalism in order to make the force a true friend of the public.

He said that the death of Cynthia, who would have been 24 years in November, had created a big vacuum in his family but stated that the family had no choice than bear the loss.

“Life must go on because what you cannot change, you will accept.’’

He commended the media for their support and appealed for demonstration of the same zeal in covering the court proceedings on the case.The  remains of the late Cynthia, conveyed in a Volvo ambulance with registration number LY 616 EKY, arrived at her father’s compound at Agbor at 2.55 p.m.

Her remains were interred in the compound at 3.55 p.m. after a brief Christian ceremony conducted by Rev. Fr. Leonard Biachi, the Parish Priest of Saint Dominic’s Catholic Church, Boji Boji, Owa.

The first attempt to bury the late Cynthia on Sept. 7 was aborted when the police were said to have refused to release her body on grounds that they had not concluded autopsy on it.

But a funeral mass scheduled for the day was conducted and persons who had arrived for the burial attended the mass and later commiserated with the family.

Guests at the Sept. 7 aborted burial included Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Dr Festus Okubor, Chief of Staff, Government House, Asaba and top military personnel and traditional chiefs in the area.

Until her death, Cynthia was a post-graduate student at the Nassarawa State University, Keffi, where she obtained her first degree. (NAN)

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Cynthia's Death: Judge Says DPP Is Delaying Case; Suspects Missing In Court

A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court has urged the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions to quickly give his advice on the alleged murder of Cynthia Osokogu.

The Magistrate, Olalekan Aka-Bashorun, said given the nature of the case, especially the media attention, the DPP ought to have given his advice so that the case could make headway.

This is just as the police prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agwu, told the court that he wanted to consolidate the charges levelled against the accused persons.

The Magistrate said, “The DPP needs to hasten advice on the case. The case is sensational and media people are everywhere with cameras. I can only remand but it is the DPP that will decide the next step.”

Five men – Okwumo Nwabufo, Olisaeloka Ezike, Orji Osita, Chukwunonso Maduakor, and Gideon Okechukwu – were charged with eight offences bordering on murder, rape, robbery, administering an obnoxious substance to Cynthia and are currently being remanded in Ikoyi Prison.

Two others – Nonso Ezike (22), who is Olisaeloka’s younger brother; and Ezeaka Chinonso – have however been granted bail after being accused of allegedly receiving and selling Cynthia’s stolen BlackBerry phone.

Agwu told the court that he sought to consolidate the charges against the accused persons who were charged at separate times. He said the charge was being consolidated so that the matter could be heard before one court.

Agu noted that although the charges would be on a singular sheet, each defendant would answer only charges he is accused of.

“Those charged with receiving stolen phones will answer to their charge but because this is a cause of the same transaction, they will be charged on the same sheet,” Agu said.

Aka-Bashorun however told Agwu that since the five persons accused of murder were not present in court, he would have to wait till the next adjourned date.

“It is ordered on the prisons authorities to bring the defendants to court on October 5, 2012, so that the new charges could be read to them,” the magistrate said.

Mr. Chris Obiaka, counsel to Okechukwu and Maduakor (the pharmacists), complained to the court that the police had yet to furnish him with proof of evidence which he said would go a long way in helping him to prepare for defence.

Agwu however argued that proof of evidence was only necessary when the matter is transferred to a High court for trial.

The magistrate immediately ordered that the proof of evidence be given to the defence lawyers in order for them to be able to prepare for the case as expected.

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FACEBOOK MURDER VICTIM CYNTHIA OSOKOGU: NOA honours 7 police officers

Aftermath of the excellent performance in investigating and arresting the k*llers of Cynthia Osokogu, the only daughter of Retired Major General Osokogu who was k*lled at a Lagos hotel this year, seven Police officers who performed the feat, were yesterday awarded the ‘NOA Civic Recognition Award’ by the National Orientation Agency. 

 The seven officers are ACP Damien Okoro, the Area Commander ‘Festac’, DSP Imoh Gregory, Woman ASP Mariam Ogunmolasuyi, ASP Agbaje Yakubu, Inspector Edo Joseph, Woman Sergeant Patience Biokoro and Sergeant Frank Okorobon all of Area ‘E’ Festac, Lagos. According to the DG, NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, the National Orientation Agency decided to initiate the civic recognition award because Nigerians in various walks of life and endeavour have been making the nation proud without being recognized and encouraged.

 “A lot of people are quick to say that Nigerians are bad when something goes wrong but when good things are done or patriotic feats are achieved, nobody bothers to say well done or thank you. “The whole nation was gripped with anger, fear and rage when this ugly, unfortunate incident occurred. 

These patriotic officers stuck out their necks to unravel the mystery. What you did restored Nigeria to the rest of the civilized world. You also restored some sort of succour to the family by arresting those that committed the dastardly act. We also thank the IGP for providing the enabling environment for you to do the job. “When people are making such efforts, you must tell them they are doing well. It is for this reason we are recognizing you”. 

 In his speech, the IG, Mohammed Abubakar commended the NOA for the honour done his men saying it has opened a new vista of partnership between the Police and the agency. Attributing the feat of arresting the killers to the policy of transformation sweeping across the Police Force, the IG said, “I assure you that we will continue to provide the right leadership and you will continue to see breakthroughs and successes in our efforts to rid the society of criminals”.

 He consequently directed the immediate elevation of Woman Sergeant Patience Biokoro and Sergeant Frank Okorobon to the rank of Inspector while Inspector Edo Joseph is to proceed on promotion course to ASP. Earlier, the IG directed all Commissioners of Police in the state commands, to control the usage of sirens along the roads nothing that in Abuja for instance only a certain category of people are supposed to use sirens.

 He spoke at the flagging off of 50 patrol vehicles for the effective monitoring of the nations borders and the highways. 40 of the patrol vehicles are to be deployed to the South West Border with headquarters in Seme, Lagos ; South-South zone with headquarters in Calabar; North West zone with headquarters in Katsina and North East zone with headquarters in Maiduguri .

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CYNTHIA: Growing apprehension over social media freedom

Following the recent gruesome murder of Cynthia Osokogu by people she met on a social media platform, many Nigerians have canvassed the need to regulate the unlimited freedom people have to social networking media. 

THE emergence of social media like Facebook, Twitter, Blackberry Messenger and YouTube have changed the face of media practice by making information sharing easier, faster and quicker. But this is not without its demerits. Social media has become a threat to the ethics of media practice and good governance because of its accessibility and absolute freedom. Every freedom carries a responsibility.

 Even in advanced democracies where we all believe good governance is practised, there is no absolute freedom. I, therefore, believe that there must be a measure to check the negative tendencies of the social media in our country.’’ Cynthia…lured through Facebook and murdered and murdered and Facebook founder: Mark Zukerberg It was on this note that the Senate President, Senator David Mark kicked off a two-day retreat for Senate Press Corps in Umuahia, Abia State two months ago. 

 The Senate President said the check became necessary because people now use social media to demean their leaders. He added that there was no opportunity for retraction of information in such media. The position of the Senate President, however, attracted criticisms from various quarters, especially from those, who noted that social media platforms are a mechanism for ordinary citizens to assess the performance of their leaders. On the heels of the condemnations, were several posts on Facebook, which called for an Occupy David Mark movement, as a way of checkmating the suggestion. For instance, a particular post on Saharareporters read thus: “ATTENTION: Occupy David Mark.

 The Senate President must be stopped from his moves to restrict the use of social media in Nigeria, as it has been done in militarised countries of the world. He has been quoted as saying the social media is being used to insult leaders. 

We are not in North Korea, this is a democracy. Occupy his telephone line and help save our only freedom of expression”. Another social media platform, Nairaland also had a post which read: “We now have citizen journalists. To me that’s a big improvement for the masses. The revolution in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya would have been impossible to organise without the social media. If someone commits what could pass for a crime, by all means get the person and sue him. They do it all the time in US and UK.

 Nothing is wrong with that. There is a difference between slander and personal opinion. I can say Mr President is silly based on my personal observation of his conduct but I should be ready to prove it if I say that he embezzled 10 billion naira. Now, let me ask, why are they so concerned. 

 “Are we doing them any real damage? Are they not still stealing our monies despite our Nairaland and other nonsense web where we helplessly vent our anger? Do your torturers have the right to tell you not to scream and cry?’’ Barely two months after the call by the Senate President, the nation was faced with the bizarre murder of Cynthia Osokogu, made possible by a social media platform, Facebook.

 For those, who had attacked and even supported the Senate President’s position, the Cynthia saga was a reminder of earlier calls, by Mark and others, for a law to regulate the social media. The late Cynthia, it would be recalled, was the last and only daughter of Major General Frank Osokogu and his wife Joy. 

A business woman and student, the 24- year-old was declared missing on July 22, a few weeks to her 25th birthday. She came into Lagos to purchase goods for her boutique and also keep a date with a few Facebook friends who had allegedly paid her air fares. She was allegedly lured to a hotel in FESTAC where she was killed. 

 Her alleged killers were said to be her Facebook friends who were part of a syndicate which lures young women to Lagos, robs them of their possessions and murders them. Cynthia was their sixth victim. She was allegedly drugged, robbed and strangled. All forms of identification were taken off her at the time of her death. She was even reported to be a call-girl who died in the ‘line of duty’. 

 Police the social media platforms With the trial of Cynthia’s alleged killers still on-going, Vanguard Features investigations reveal a growing concern over the use of social media networks and the need to regulate the use of social media in the country. Only recently, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, lamented the mischievous use of the social media by some Nigerians.

 He spoke at the 20th anniversary of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC in Abuja, He decried the unwholesome information and pictures of teenagers posted on Facebook, which are sometimes used to tarnish the image of some innocent Nigerians. Also corroborating Maku’s call for a regulatory framework, Chief Emeke Ndige, told VF that it is regrettable that the merits of social media are being consumed by its disadvantages.

 He called on the regulatory bodies to check the trend, adding that concerned agencies should come up with laws regulating the freedom in social media usage. “It is a sad development, and we should all rise to do everything within the ambit of the law to checkmate this trend. It was unfortunate that the young lady ended in such manner. But it has come with a purpose because the law would now become so responsive to the need to police the social media platforms. 

They have to be policed in order to create order in its usage, because there is so much freedom there, ‘’ he stated. Continuing, Ndige said: ‘’I am not against any form of liberty; as a lawyer we support people’s inalienable rights, but that right should not infringe on other people’s life. So NCC and other concerned agencies should come in.

 But that is not all, the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary should ensure that any social media suspect is prosecuted to a logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others. In other countries, cyber criminals are prosecuted by the law’’. Also speaking on the need for cyber security in the country, the Managing Partner of Okoro&Okoror Chambers, Chief Eidonogie Isiwele, told VF, that there was nothing wrong with the unlimited freedom in social media. 

He explained that what is needed is to create a secured future for the youths. ‘’I am not holding brief for anyone, but you will agree that most cyber related crimes in Nigeria are driven by poverty and state of hopelessness. A lot of people have no future in this country because of the collapse of the social system, hence surviving in Nigeria, to them, becomes survival of the fittest. 

The situation made the people to embrace internet crimes, but that notwithstanding, the law should be preventive on social media crime,” he said As far as Isiwele is concerned: ‘’Relevant laws should be put in place, but the people’s right to social media should not be stopped like what obtains in few countries where their laws are draconian as regards to social media.

 “I know that the Federal Government made attempts to curb the excesses of social media and its growing influence early this year; it is in order because it would reduce the soaring rate of cyber crimes in the country,’’ he posited According to him: ‘’Cyber criminals are already exploiting vulnerabilities and loopholes in national and regional legislation, there is evidence that they are shifting their diverse operations to countries where appropriate and enforcement laws are not yet in place’’.

 A 2008 report by the President of Global Network for Cyber Solutions, Dr. Chris Uwaje, stressed the need for government to seek the advice of experts in the field of information technology. ‘’If Nigeria knows IP and cyber security issues, they should domicile them at the footstep of the professionals in the CPN, the NCS and ATCON. 

These are people who have been trained in the area of informatics and information technology development; they should be the experts advising government,’’ the report said Continuing, Uwagie declared : ‘’ How can we have a nation that does not have an IT adviser to the President? And you want to safeguard your country from digital attack. 

There must be a Special Assistant to the Office of Mr. President, who would be a senior adviser on information technology. These are the things that need to be put in place in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is very strategically imperative that we need to do as fast as we can’’.

 According to him: ‘’ There is no reason why we should not have an Institute of Cybercrime Monitoring; there is no reason why we cannot have Cyber Engineering in our institutions; there is no reason why we should not inculcate the cybersecurity curriculum from primary school upwards. 

Just the same way we used to have the civic lessons of old, cybersecurity and cybercrime can be introduced at the primary and secondary schools levels’’. Vanguard Features recalls a recent report on Aljazzeera titled: “Dutch boy sentenced in Facebook murder case”. 

 According to the report, the 15-year-old Dutch boy was sentenced to a year in juvenile detention after he confessed to killing a schoolgirl over a row that appears to have begun on Facebook, the social-networking site. Jinhua K was 14 when he fatally stabbed Joyce “Winsie” Hau at her home. Jinhua was further convicted by the court for attempting to kill his victim’s father. ‘’The case, known in the Netherlands as the Facebook murder, caused widespread debate about the role of social media in violent crimes. 

The court said the boy did not know the victim and had murdered her “at the request or instructions of others”. Dutch media reported that the 15-year-old victim had argued for weeks with two friends on the social-networking site before they allegedly asked the defendant, who was 14 at the time, to kill her. He was offered a 1,000-euro payment, the media reported.

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Cynthia's murder: Press release from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria

This concerns the two pharmacists arrested in connection with Cynthia Osokogu's murder. Read it below 

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) joins millions of Nigerians to empathize with the family of the late Cynthia Osokogu who was lured by friends she met on facebook to Lagos where she was brutalized and eventually k*lled.

We also commend the Nigeria Police for the professional investigation that led to the arrest of the two young men who admitted openly to have committed the heinous crime.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is interested in a diligent and focused investigation of this murder which continues to attract so much interest from Nigerians to the extent that all found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law, while innocent people are not unjustly arraigned, prosecuted and punished.

We note with concern the arraignment of two young Pharmacists who were charged along with the confessed suspects for rape, armed robbery, murder and administering of obnoxious substances. These are weighty charges that reflect the gravity of the offences that led to the d*ath of this promising lady. We at Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) indeed perceive this loss as a great one to the Osokogus, friends, colleagues and all Nigerians.

The PSN after a critical appraisal of all issues at stake wishes to reflect thus:

1) Pharmacists as responsible professionals and as legitimate custodians of medicines would continue to champion safe, responsible and rational use of medicines in Nigeria. Our projects and programmes in the last few years have always been geared towards the promotion of safe use of medicines. Having said this, it is important to realize that all medicines are poisons with inherent tendencies for abuse and misuse.

 Pharmacists have always exercised due diligence, caution and professional judgment in dispensing and sales of medicines. But beyond this, it is difficult to know what a person intends to do or does with the medicine after purchase especially for a premeditated criminal act that involved use of chains, padlocks, tape and other dangerous weapons.

Information available to us indicate:

a. Pharmacist Chukwunonso Maduakor was on duty in Oxpharm in the morning of Monday August 20, 2012. A gentleman approached him and requested to buy Rohypnol. Nonso asked him for a prescription and he said he does not have one. The gentleman begged and pleaded with him that he really needed it with paracetamol.

 Pharm. Nonso considered his request on compassionate grounds and dispensed to him one (1) card of 10 tablets of flunitrazapam along with one (1) card of Paracetamol. The gentleman goes out of the pharmacy, and then came in again with other persons, arrested Nonso and accused him of selling drug without prescription. They then took him to the Police station, he made statement and was detained for six (6) days in Festac Police Area Command. 

On the 7th day they transferred him to Panti from where he was taken to a Magistrate Court and was charged for conspiracy, murder, armed robbery, rape and administering obnoxious substances to Miss Cynthia Osokogu who was k*lled by two known persons a month earlier in July 2012.

b. The second Pharmacists, Pharm. Osita Orji is a Locum Pharmacist with Oxpharm and works evening shifts. The police visited Oxpharm on 21 August 2012 and requested to see Osita. When he got to the station, they alleged that he was the Pharmacist on duty when the suspected killer of Cynthia claimed they bought Rohypnol from Oxpharm. Osita made statement that he did not know the murderers, could not recall meeting them or selling Rohypnol to them and if they ever bought the Rohypnol from him while on duty that they must have presented him with a prescription. Osita was detained in Festac Police Area Command for two (2) days, then transferred to Panti from where he was taken to a Magistrate Court and charged

2) If the liability of the two pharmacists is limited to the sales or alleged sales of rohypnol to clients they do not know and never collaborated with in this condemnable crime then it is logical to believe that at best there might have been breaches of professional ethics. The law provides that such matters are dealt with by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria a regulatory agency of the Federal Government established by Cap. P.17 LFN 2004.

3) The drug in question Rohypnol is an intermediate acting benzodiazepam similar to diazepam (valium), nitrazepam (swidon) and bromazepam (lexotan).

Rohypnol is the brand name of the medicine flunitrazepam and is one of the benzodiazepine class of sedatives or tranquilizer drugs, of which valium or diazepam is perhaps the best known. It is used in the management of anxiety and sleep disorders (short term treatment of insomnia).

Rohypnol is made by Roche in Switzerland, registered with NAFDAC (Reg. No: 04 ? 0150) and distributed in Nigeria by Swipha Nigeria Ltd. It is not a rare drug as being reported. It is available in Nigeria.

4) The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) counsels Nigerians to monitor the use of internet facilities by youths and children particularly because of volume and nature of information available.

5) We urge the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in the Ministry of Justice in Lagos State to immediately review the cases of these pharmacists with a view to advising the relevant authorities on how best to tackle this matter and to ensure that the innocent is not persecuted albeit unjustly.

CONCLUSION

Gentlemen of the Press, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) assures Nigerians that it will continue to work with stakeholders including relevant regulatory agencies to evolve a National Strategy that will improve the use of medicines in Nigeria. In line with this, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has dedicated September 25, 2012 to continue the dialogue on safe medicines by collaborating with the National Human Rights Commission, Regulatory Agencies, Media and other stakeholders.

One of the salient lessons inherent in the discourse is that our youth while trusting must verify the relationship they make through the social media given the abuse potential.

Once again, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the entire Osokogu family. We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear this loss.

Thank you.

Azubike Okwor FPSN,FPCPHARM,FFIP

President

August 30, 2012

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"Cynthia Osokogu will be buried on Sept 7 in Delta State"– Family

Miss Cynthia Osokogu, the victim of an Internet dating transaction, will be buried on Sept. 7 at Bebe, Ovia Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta, the family said.

 Cynthia, a postgraduate student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, was allegedly k*lled by friends she met on the social media, Facebook, at a hotel in Festac, Lagos in July. 

 This is so sad,May the Almighty give the family and close friends the strength to bear the loss.

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Face Photos Of Cynthia Osukogu's Facebook Killers

Finally we have the first face photos of the monsters that murdered the pretty Cynthia using facebook as a major tool, they were arraigned before a lagos court today, here is how PM news reported:

 The suspects - Okwumo Echezona Nwabufor, 33, Ezike Ilechukwu Olisaeloka, 23, Orji Osita, 32, and Maduakor Chukwunonso, 25 were slammed with an eight-count charge of murder, armed robbery, administering the late Cynthia with obnoxious substance known as Rohyenol via Ribena fruit drink, among others. 

 According to the charge, the suspects also had unlawful sexual intercourse with the victim without her consent. Their plea was not taken. The court ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody and their file duplicated for DPP’s advice. The matter was adjourned till 3 October, 2012.

 Following the arrest and subsequent parade of Olisaeloka and his cousin, Nwabufor, over the murder of Cynthia, three more ladies came forward, saying they were once victims of the alleged murderers. The three women reportedly went to Festac Police Command to write a statement about how they were drugged, r**ped and robbed by the suspects now facing trial.

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Cynthia Osokogu’s Last Conversation With Her Mother Before She Was Murdered

“On July 22, my daughter Cynthia called me and said that she had arrived Lagos. She was a student of Nasarawa State University in Keffi. She owned a boutique, which she opened when she was a third year undergraduate”. 

 “They usually brought her goods imported from the United States, but that fateful July 22, she told me that they were bringing her goods from England”. “She said this time; she wanted to buy English goods to add to her other goods. 

She told me that since school would be resuming the next day, she would take the next flight to Jos to see me. “As she did not arrive as she promised and we did not hear from her, we raised alarm and declared her missing”. 

 “Then on Monday, August 20, they said we should come to Lagos and that they cannot disclose anything unless we come”. “It was when my son got to Lagos and they took him to the mortuary that they saw her corpse. I don’t know anything that happened again after that”. 

 The suspects in Cynthia’s death, Mrs. Osokogu said, told her daughter when they received her at the airport at the Lagos that her goods were in the hotel room and that they wanted to show her there. “When they got there, they now strangled her to death, tied her mouth and everything. That was all”, she wailed.

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