Tag: Super TV CEO

Why my statements on Super TV CEO’s murder were false – Chidinma

Chidinma Ojukwu, accused of killing Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, on Tuesday said that statements she made during police interrogation were false and under duress.

Ojukwu testified in her defence before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

She is standing murder trial alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.

They are also charged with stealing and forgery.

They were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge preferred by the Lagos State Government.

At the resumed hearing, Chidinma said that, due to a fear the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Mr Bamidele, and his team put in her, she could not deviate from a narrative they dictated for her.

“I narrated what the IPO asked me to say to the Lagos State commissioner of police,” Ojukwu said.
Ojukwu was led in evidence by her counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu.

According to her, after she was arrested on June 23, 2021, Bamidele collected her phone and asked her to input the password, which she did.

Chidinma testified that the IPO located her sister’s name in her contact list, asked her to confirm it, and then wrote it down.

She testified that the IPO also inquired about her laptop and her visit to Computer Village, Ikeja.

“He asked what laptop I sold, and I replied it was a MacBook. When he asked where I sold it, I told him it was to a phone vendor. He then noted down the vendor’s address.”

Chidinma said the IPO asked her about the source of some cannabis she smoked, and she said that someone supplied it.

“He asked: ‘The cannabis you said you and Michael smoked, where did you get it? I said, ‘Quadri’.

“Bamidele said: ‘Can I have his phone number? I said, ‘Its on my phone’. He collected the number and wrote it down.

“Then he asked: “Where is Micheal’s ATM card? I said, ‘ I am not with Michael’s ATM card.

“ He said: Five million Naira was withdrawn and subsequently N20,000 was withdrawn a couple of times, totaling N5,380,000.

“I said, “Sir, I don’t know anything about it’,” Ojukwu said.

The defendant also told the court that after the interrogation, Bamidele said he got some evidence and asked her to write her statement.

Chindinma testified that during her interrogation, she faced mistreatment from Bamidele.

She alleged that Bamidele slapped her after she expressed concerns about writing her statement without her legal counsel being present.

She testified that her hands were handcuffed to a chair while Bamidele read the statement to her multiple times.

According to her, the next morning, Bamidele and another officer escorted her to the office of the Lagos State commissioner of police where she was coerced into repeating the allegedly dictated statement.

She further testified that she was paraded before journalists and was instructed to stick to the ‘script’ provided by Bamidele.

She added that she was taken to another office where she was forced to write a statement under duress.

The case has been adjourned until May 7 for continuation of trial.

April 30, 2025
Chidinma Ojukwu charged with murder of Super TV CEO, graduates from prison empowerment program

Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspect arrested in connection with the death of Michael Ataga, CEO of Super TV, has graduated from the Onesimus Project Life Recovery pre-release empowerment programme at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre, Lagos.

TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is being prosecuted alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri for the murder of Ataga.

However, in a recent development, Ojukwu alongside 29 male and female inmates recently completed various skill-building programmes in the initiative organised by the Prison Fellowship of Nigeria in partnership with Covenant University and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.

She also recieved certificates for completing the programme, during Wednesday’s 13th graduation and 14th matriculation ceremony.

Speaking, the project coordinator Pastor Sule Bamigbola said there has been a significant progress in 2024, with 525 inmates successfully graduating and 60 others matriculating.

He added that a total of 18 male inmates graduated as well, signifying the programme’s commitment to equipping inmates for a fresh start.

“We achieved a recidivism rate of only 11 per cent, which makes this project a huge success,” he said.

Explaining what Onesimus Project signifies, Bamigbola said it is designed to shape participants into role models, equipped to share their experiences and new skills upon release.

“The essence of this project is to make graduates role models by the time they go out there, so they can tell people they’ve passed through the Onesimus Project,” Bamigbola added.

Inmates learned various vocational skills, including shoemaking, soap production, leatherworking, barbing, and farming as part of the project.

These activities allowed them to generate income while still in custody.

“We have inmates learning shoemaking, soap-making, leatherwork, and more,” Bamigbola noted.

“While they work, we sell these products through marketers and share the earnings with the inmates,” he added.

Representing the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr Haliru Nababa, Deputy Controller of Corrections, and officer–in charge of Medium Kirikiri, Mr Daniel Ogu, spoke about the importance of forgiveness in rehabilitation.

“Forgiving others also releases you, allowing for personal freedom,” he said.

He commended the programme for reshaping inmates and reminded them to avoid bitterness.

Foursquare Gospel Church’s general overseer Rev Dr Sam Aboyeji was represented by Rev Dr Emmanuel Adejoro.

October 31, 2024
Ataga: Change of counsel stalls Chidinma’s murder trial

Trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu, for the murder of Mr Usifo Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, was on Thursday stalled due to a change of counsel.

Ojukwu is standing trial before a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

She is charged with murder, stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

On Thursday, a lawyer from the Office of the Public Defender, Mrs J. I. Osagede, appeared for the third defendant, Egbuchu.

Osagede, who stood in for her colleague, Egbuchu’s former counsel, Mr A. O. Ogunsanya, informed the court that the third defendant wrote to the office about her desire to change counsel.

Thereafter, Mr Ngozi Akandu, announced appearance as the new counsel for the third defendant.

Akandu, told the court that he was briefed on Wednesday (May 11), adding that court documents given to him were not clear.

He said that he would need clear copies and more time to study the documents.

In her response, prosecution counsel, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “The rule of fair hearing is that litigants are free to get any counsel of their choice.”

Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, did not object to the change of counsel.

Also, the second defendant’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, did not object.

He said, “In the interest of justice, we will concede to their request but they should tidy their house before the next adjourned date.”

Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until May 16 for continuation of trial.

On the last adjourned date, the ninth prosecution witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, testified how Ojukwu ( first defendant) was arrested.

Bamidele said that the Intelligence and Tactical Unit of the State Criminal Investigating Department (SCID) Yaba, tracked Ojukwu down at No. 57, Akinwunmi St., Alagomeji, Yaba.

The three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge brought against them by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count – stealing of iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Ojukwu and Quadri are alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

May 13, 2022
How police tracked Chidinma after death of Super TV CEO – Witness

A prosecution witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, on Monday told a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, that Chidinma Ojukwu charged with murder of Mr Usifo Ataga, was tracked through her phone.

Bamidele is the ninth prosecution witness in the trial of Ojukwu for murder of Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV.

Ojukwu is charged with murder, stealing, and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

They all pleaded not guilty.

Bamidele said that the Intelligence and Tactical Unit of the State Criminal Investigating Department (SCID) Yaba, tracked Ojukwu down at No. 57, Akinwunmi St., Alagomeji, Yaba.

Bamidele, who serves at the Homicide Section of the SCID, gave evidence at the resumed trial of Ojukwu.

He was led in evidence by Lagos State Director for Public Prosecutions, Mrs A. O. Oluwafemi.

He narrated how the case was allegedly transferred from Maroko Police Station to his department at the SCID.

He said that the case was transferred and assigned to his team on June 17, 2021, with a suspect, one Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the apartment where the alleged murder occurred.

The witness said that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) from Maroko Police Station told him how a complaint about a body with a mark of violence was brought to the station.

Bamidele said that the IPO also informed him that he took pictures and made video recordings which were transferred into his Infinix Hot 4.

The witness testified that after receiving the complaint from the IPO, he visited the scene of alleged crime alongside the IPO and Mogbo.

“We met the security guard who took us into the apartment, and I observed that there were bloodstains on the floor, the bed was ruffled with blood stains on the pillow and duvet.

“The IPO also took me to Yaba General Hospital mortuary to see the body, and I observed that there were stab wounds on the body, including injury on his head and knees.

“I also saw that the two wrists had marks indicating that they were tied,” Bamidele said.

The witness said that he interacted with Mogbo who informed him that, on June 13, a phone call came from one Jewel, who requested for a room at her short-service apartment.

He also said that the security guard at the apartment told him how the body of the deceased was discovered at the apartment where the said Jewel lodged with the deceased.

Bamidele also said that the security guard at the apartment gave him a phone number which the said Jewel used in calling him while at the apartment.

“After getting the information from the security guard, we engaged a tracking team.

“The trackers with the intelligent and tactical unit, tracked one Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, down at No. 57, Akinwunmi St., Alagomeji Yaba,” he said.

The witness also told the court that the statements of the owner of the apartment and the security were all taken and he identified the statements which were already in court as exhibits.

He also said that the pictures and videos in his phone were downloaded into a disc by an information technology expert in his office.

At this point, prosecution counsel prayed for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to bring the video for viewing and to tender it in evidence.

Earlier, an Access Bank account officer to the deceased, Mr Toafeek Lawal, gave evidence as the eighth prosecution witness.

He gave evidence on the Naira account statements of the deceased, starting from April 1, 2021, to August 31, 2021.

He said that there were, however, no transactions on the account from June 19, 2021 to August 31, 2021.

He said that immediately the bank learnt of the death of Ataga, it placed a Post No Debit on the account to stop any debit from being effected on the account.

He said that money was transferred from Ataga’s account on June 16, and the transaction were done through USSD platform to his other account.

Lawal also said that, on June 17, money was transferred to Ataga’s account but on June 18, money was transferred from Ataga’s account to a different account.

He said that the deceased operated two accounts with the bank which were a Naira account and a domiciliary account.

The witness was cross-examined by Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu.

Egwu asked the witness to confirm that in a USSD mode of transfer, the password would be exclusive to the owner of the account.

The witness answered that the password was meant to be exclusive unless the owner decided otherwise.

Egwu also asked the witness to confirm how many payments were made to the first defendant during the period the statement covered.

The witness answered that it was only once.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until May 10 for continuation of trial.

The three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge brought against them by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count – stealing of iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Ojukwu and Quadri are alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

NAN

May 9, 2022
How we found Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga in pool of own blood – Police

Investigative Police Officer, Insp Ibrahim Isaka, on Thursday narrated how police allegedly discovered Usifo Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, in the pool of his blood.

Isiaka, the sixth prosecution witness, testified in the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu for alleged murder of Ataga, before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

The witness said that the police consequently called the emergency Unit at Yaba General Hospital and evacuated Ataga’s corpse.

Ojukwu is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, for alleged murder, stealing and forgery.

Isiaka, who said he had worked as a police personnel for 28 years, told the court that on June 16, 2021, a case of murder was reported at his place of work, Maroko Police Station.

According to him, at 11:30 p.m., one Mrs Nkechi Mogbo, came to the station and reported that a body was discovered at her short-service facility where people lodged.

He testified that Mogbo narrated to the police that the security guard at the facility informed her that the body of a man who lodged in the facility was discovered lying in the pool of his blood.

The witness said that Mogbo also told the police that a cleaner in the facility went to clean the apartment but there was no response from the people who lodged there.

He said that the security guard and the cleaner forcefully opened the door and discovered Ataga in the pool of blood.

The witness said the police including the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) went to the crime scene.

“The DPO immediately called the Emergency Unit at Yaba General Hospital, the hospital came and evacuated the corpse.

“The following morning, June 17, the commissioner of police advised that the case be transferred to the Homicide Section, Panti,” Isiaka said.

He said that a police team from Panti asked him to follow the team to the crime scene and he did.

Isiaka said that the police found some clothes and a travelling bag in the apartment and collected the items for investigation.

He said that he wrote a statement and handed the case file to the police at Panti.

Prosecution counsel, Mrs A. O. Oluwafemi, also Deputy Director of Lagos State Directorate Public Prosecutions, sought to tender the witness’s statement as evidence but Quadri’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, objected.

Busari said that the statement was extrajudicial (a statement made outside the court) and, therefore, not admissible.

He cited some Supreme Court and Appeal Court decisions to support his objection.

Other defence counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu for Ojukwu, and Mr O. A. Ogunsanya for Egbuchu, did not object to tendering of the statement.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya, however, overruled the objection, saying that it failed.

After the ruling, counsel to Ojukwu, cross-examined the witness during which he testified that the case was assigned to him by a charge room officer.

He added that he carried out his investigations subject to instructions given to him by the DPO and DCO.

After the cross-examination, Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until Feb. 21 for continuation of trial.

The three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on a nine-count charge preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

February 17, 2022
Murder of Super TV CEO: Trial of Chidinma stalled

Trial of Chidinma Ojukwu charged with murder of the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, was on Monday stalled due to prosecution witness’s lack of composure.

Ojukwu, a third year Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is standing trial before a Lagos High Court.

The undergraduate is facing trial along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

On Monday, Lagos State counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, told the court that the fourth prosecution witness arrived at the court from Asaba in the morning and was not composed to testify.

“We will be asking for an adjournment till tomorrow, Nov. 30, to enable the witness to settle down,” he said.

Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, did not object to the application.

Quadri’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, also did not oppose the application but said that prosecution should have called other witnesses.

Egbuchu’s counsel, Mr O.A. Ogunsanya, submitted that the adjournment would be in the interest of justice.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya consequently granted the oral application and adjourned the case until Tuesday for continuation of trial.

At the last adjourned date, a businessman and the third prosecution witness, Mr Ifeoluwa Oluwo, testified that he bought the late Ataga’s Apple MacBook laptop from Ojukwu, for N495, 000.

The witness said that he bought the laptop from Ojukwu on June 18, after negotiations.

He told the court that it was after the sale of the laptop that he saw Ojukwu’s face on social media regarding the alleged murder and, therefore kept the transaction documents well.

The three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on a nine-count charge preferred by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts of the charge which border on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count which is stealing of iPhone 7 belonging to Ataga.

The first and second defendants – Ojukwu and Quadri – are alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

November 29, 2021
Usifo Ataga: How Chidinma sold late Super TV CEO’s laptop to me for N495,000, businessman tells court

The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu accused of murdering Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga continued Thursday with a witness narrating how she sold a Macbook pro to him at the sum of N495,000.

The trial continued before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, of the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

The prosecution called the witness, Mr Oluwo Ifeoluwa, a businessman involved in sales of phones laptops, and accessories for five years.

During examination, he identified the first defendant (Chidinma) as the person who came to sell a laptop. According to him, she made a purchase at his office on April 30 and a sale on June 18, 2021, of ‘her’ laptop.

Mr Ifeoluwa confirmed that as dealers in buying and selling of phones, laptops and other accessories, the first defendant came to resell on June 18, 2021, a Macbook pro.

He also explained that after conducting due diligence on the items, he asked her to put in her password to access it, which she did and unlocked it.

He said further that he asked if she had a receipt of purchase for the laptop and if the laptop is for her? According to him, she replied that it was a gift from her boyfriend and that she has two laptops, so she needs to sell one to pay some bills.

He added that Chidinma asked for N600,000 but they were able to negotiate N495,000 and only after the forms were filled and documents were in his possession was the bank transfer made.

Afterwards, he said he heard the news on social media regarding the murder case and theft of a laptop. According to him, the name was familiar and close to the name of the customer. He said a few days later the police invited himself and his manager for questioning where they gave their statement.

Without further cross-examination by the other counsels, Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the matter to the 29th and 30th November for the continuation of trial.

November 25, 2021
Super TV CEO’s murder: How I discovered Ataga’s corpse – Security guard

Abubakar Mohammed, the security guard at the apartment where Mr Usifo Ataga, Super TV Chief Executive Officer was murdered has said he was the person who discovered the corpse of the victim.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mohammed made this known on Tuesday while testifying before a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

Mohammed gave evidence as the second prosecution witness in the trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu (first defendant), and two others, for Ataga’s murder.

Ojukwu is facing trial along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

At the resumed hearing, the witness narrated to the court how the defendant logged at the apartment where he worked as security man on Sunday June 13.

According to him, his employer, Mrs Nkechi Mogbo, informed him of a client who had contacted her for an apartment.

He said when the defendant showed up, he took her to inspect the place and later gave her the keys to the apartment when his employer gave him the instructions to do so.

Mohammed further narrated how Mr Usifo Ataga (victim) came to the apartment later in the night the same June 13.

The witness said the victim drove in, in a dark coloured Range Rover SUV and was allowed into the premises when the defendant came out of the gate and said “he is my person”.

He also said that the defendant and the victim went out that night and came back at about 11:30p.m.

“The defendant asked me to open the gate so that the victim would park his vehicle inside the premises which I did.

“On Tuesday night by 8p.m., the defendant came out and entered an Uber car and went out. I stayed outside till 12a.m, waiting for her to return but she didn’t, so I went to bed.

“On Wednesday, the vehicle that collects refuse came so I told the cleaner (named Confidence) to bring out all the dustbin from the apartment.

“Confidence came back and told me that the door at the defendant’s apartment was open, I went there, called out the man (victim) but there was no answer.

“I tried to push the door but something was blocking it, I peeped through the narrow opening and saw the victim’s dead body on the floor.

“My employer called me talking about another client whose rent has expired, I then told her about the incident,” the witness narrated.

The witness also narrated how his employer informed the police and how he was taken to the police station to make his statements.

He also told the court that while the defendant was at the apartment, she called him one night with a new number and not the private number she usually called with.

Mohammed said when the body was discovered, he stored that particular number on his phone and checked it on WhatsApp.

The witness said he discovered that the profile picture on that phone was the defendant’s own, he screen shot the picture.

According to him, he changed his own profile picture and sent a WhatsApp message to the defendant, after which the defendant removed her profile picture.

Mohammed said he gave the information to his employer.

He also narrated how the defendant called him with a private number asking him about the victim’s car.

Mohammed said: “Immediately I noticed she was the one calling, I asked why she has not returned since she went out, she answered that she went for a meeting and will be back”.

Mohammed was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, who is the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

However, due to time, the Judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, adjourned the case until Wednesday for cross examination.

The three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on a nine-count charge preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

November 16, 2021
Super TV CEO murder: How Chidinma booked apartment where Ataga was killed – Apartment’s owner

The owner of the apartment where Mr Usifo Ataga, Super TV Chief Executive Officer, was allegedly murdered, on Monday said that she neither met Ataga nor his alleged murderers before the incident.

Nkechi Mogbo testified before a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

She was being being cross-examined as the first prosecution witness in the trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu (first defendant), and two others for Ataga’s murder.

Ojukwu is facing trial along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

Mogbo was cross-examined by Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu.

On Nov. 11, the witness told the court that she operated a fully-furnished self-service apartment like a normal house with cable television subscription, a 24-hour power supply and a well-equipped kitchen.

Mogbo also narrated to the court how Ojukwu booked and lodged in the apartment with `a friend’, including how the body of Ataga was discovered at the apartment.

At the resumed trial on Monday, still said that Ojukwu informed her while booking for the apartment, adding that she told her that she would be lodging with a friend.

Mogbo said she could not collect Ojukwu’s International Passport for identification before lodging her because the defendant told her that her passport was with the Nigeria Immigration Service for purposes of COVID-19 isolation.

The witness said she did not ask for vaccination certificate because, “I didn’t think it was in my capacity to request for it’’.

“I was not previleged to know if she was a Nigerian due to the name (Jewel) and the foreign phone number she used while booking for the apartment,” Mogbo added.

The witness also said that when the payment for the apartment was made with Ataga’s name, she did not raise an eyebrow because payment could be made by a friend or family member.

She said that Ojukwu sent the receipt of the payment through WhatsApp.

“I did not know who the initiator of the payment was; the defendant sent to me the proof of payment less than a minute after the payment was made; so, there was nothing to arouse any suspicion.

“If I did, I would have called the person for further clarification.

“I had no idea who the lady (defendant) was. I never met her before. I had no idea the reason she lodged at the apartment except what I was told.

“I was only running a business just like any other hardworking Nigerian,” the witness said.

The witness also testified that the guest at the apartment adjacent to where the alleged murder occurred, had indicated a week earlier of his intention to leave the premises on June 17.

Mogbo denied being the one that informed the guest to leave the premises after the incident occurred.

The witness said that it was when the police asked her to give information about the building that she mentioned about the other guests at the apartment.

She confirmed that it was at a deputy commissioner of police’s office that she identified the defendant through a picture on her phone.

Mogbo also said it was the True Caller App on her phone that brought out the name (Chidinma Onah) which the defendant used in registering the private number she had called her (Mogbo) with earlier.

She also said that the defendant did not inform her that she would vacate the premises for her friend when she asked and paid for additional two days.

“When the body was found, my security guard called the defendant, she only said that she went for a meeting and would be back,” Mogbo said.

After the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi who is the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that she had no re-examination.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until Nov.16 for continuation of trial.

NAN reports that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on a nine-count charge preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest.

The alleged murder took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

November 15, 2021
Ataga alleged murder: Illegible statements stall Chidinma’s trial

Illegible statements served on the defence counsels on Tuesday stalled the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, at a Lagos High court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).

Defence counsels complained that the statements contained in the proof of evidence served on them were all illegible and that the audio interviews of the defendants were also inaudible.

They stated that the defendants had a right to clearer statements and audible video interviews as it would enable them prepare their defence adequately.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya, in her ruling, directed the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to provide clearer statements and audible copies of the interviews to all the defence counsels before the end of the day.

Adesanya further adjourned the matter to Nov. 11, 15, 16, 17, 26 and 30 for trial.

Earlier, Mrs A.O. Adeyemi, had entered appearance for the prosecution from the DPP, while Mr Onwuka Egbu, Mr Babatunde Busari and Mr A.O. Ogunsanya had appeared for the first to third defendants respectively.

Adeyemi told the court that she had two witnesses in court and was ready to begin trial, but Egwu informed the court that he had a pending application before the court that was ripe for hearing.

He said that in his application, he was praying for more legible statements, as the ones contained in the proof of evidence the prosecution served him were illegible.

Counsel to the second defendant, Busari, aligned with the submission of the first defence counsel and further complained that the video recordings of the interviews were not served on him.

On his part, counsel to the third defendant, Ogunsanya, from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), told the court that the video interviews of the defendants that were served on him were not audible.

He aligned with previous submissions that the statements he was served were also not clear.

The defence counsels submitted that they needed all these documents to enable them prepare for the trial adequately.

Adeyemi told the court that she would send soft copies of all the proof of evidence to each defence counsels’ email before the end of the day.

Recall that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12, on a nine-count charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

They had allegedly murdered the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga.

The first two defendants, Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri, are facing the first eight counts on the charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, who is the first defendant’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count charge of stealing iPhone 7, phone, belonging to the late Ataga.

In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on his neck and chest.

The incident took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

They were also alleged to have forged United Bank account statement of one Mary from June 1, 2021, an international passport and a driver’s license in Chidinma’s name.

In count eight, Chidinma was accused of stealing two iPhones; an iPhone 7 and an iPhone 11, one Apple MacBook Laptop and ATM cards belonging to the late Usifo Ataga from which the sum of N380,000 was subsequently withdrawn.

It was also alleged that on June 22, Chidinma’s sister, Chioma, was found in possession of a stolen iPhone 7, property of the late Usifo Ataga.

November 9, 2021