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Tag: Ataga

  • Chidinma denies stealing Ataga’s devices, claims ownership in court

    Chidinma denies stealing Ataga’s devices, claims ownership in court

    A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Monday heard fresh testimony from Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the 2021 murder of Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga, as she denied stealing the late businessman’s mobile phones and laptop.

    Ojukwu, a 23-year-old former Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos, maintained that the devices recovered by the police belonged to her, not Ataga.

    Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, Ojukwu insisted that she was the rightful owner of a MacBook Pro 16-inch, Core i7 (2019 model), with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, along with an HP laptop—distinct from the 13-inch 2020 MacBook Pro Ataga reportedly had.

    She stated that although she had proof of purchase, the receipt was among several personal items that went missing following a police search of her home.

    Ojukwu also admitted that she visited a computer store on June 18, 2021, to sell the MacBook, claiming it was a gift from a man named Mr. Fredrick, whom she had not contacted since her arrest.

    Responding to the allegation that she swapped Ataga’s phone pouch with a cheaper one worth ₦1,000, she claimed the pouch in question was hers and had been featured in a post on her Instagram page, @iamdorable. Her lawyer, Onwuka Egwu, tendered screenshots of the post, which were admitted as evidence by the court.

    Ojukwu is standing trial alongside Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, on charges of murder, theft, and forgery related to Ataga’s death.

    She also clarified that, during her time with the deceased, she had an iPhone 11 Pro and another iPhone Xx, while an iPhone 7 remained at home. Although she lost receipts for most of her phones, she tendered the one for the iPhone Xx, which was admitted into evidence as Exhibit P25. She also confirmed ownership of a bag containing the phone, ATM cards, pad, voter’s card, and other personal items.

    When cross-examined on call records showing she made about 15 calls between June 13 and 18, 2021, nine of which were to co-defendant Adedapo Quadri, Ojukwu admitted the calls, stating they were related to ongoing transactions and other personal dealings.

    Read Also: New children’s book by Chidinma Ifunanyachi explores power of names

    She explained that in May 2021, a friend had asked for help with obtaining an international passport and driver’s license.

    During a call with a friend, Quadri phoned her regarding a clothing delivery, and she added him to the conversation. Quadri, she said, claimed to have contacts who could process the documents. Arrangements were made, and subsequent follow-up calls between them were related to the delivery of those items.

    Ojukwu also denied forging any documents, including bank statements, a driver’s license, or an international passport. She maintained that the two bank statements found by the police were hers and authentic.

    She confirmed ownership of her genuine driver’s license and passport but stated that a driver’s license bearing the name “Mary Johnson” did not belong to her.

    The court admitted these documents as exhibits and adjourned the case to October 6 for continuation of the trial.

  • I found Ataga dead in Lekki apartment, Chidinma tells court

    I found Ataga dead in Lekki apartment, Chidinma tells court

    A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square yesterday heard the testimony from Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga.

    Ojukwu, a 300-level, Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is facing trial for the alleged offence alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

    She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside Quadri and her sister, Egbuchu. Chidinma was arraigned on October 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge preferred against her.

    Ojukwu told the court how she discovered Ataga’s body in a Lekki short-let apartment on June 15, 2021.

    Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, Ojukwu said she had gone out to buy food and juice. On her return, she knocked on the door but got no response. She then pushed it open and was confronted by a gruesome sight, blood on the floor and Ataga lying dead in a pool of it.

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    “I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she said, adding that his eyes were half-shut and he had no pulse.

    Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma detailed her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020.

    They met through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described Ataga as kind and supportive, claiming he had paid her school fees and supported her cosmetics business.

    She said Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City, and was in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife who lived in Abuja.

    According to Chidinma, Ataga called her on June 13, 2021, saying his birthday was that week and invited her to spend time with him before heading to Abuja for a family celebration. Due to renovations at his VGC home, he suggested getting a hotel or apartment in Lekki, where he had meetings.

    She eventually found a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved. They met there that evening, went out to eat at Ango Villa Restaurant, picked up wine, then returned to the apartment to drink, eat, and smoke.

    On June 14, 2021 they woke up late, and Ataga asked her to contact her supplier for loud (cannabis) and rohypnol. She said he sent her N15,000 for that and later N25,000 for food. She was out for about two hours buying meals due to COVID-related delays.

    On June 15, 2021, she said Ataga again requested more loudly, but asked her to pay since he couldn’t transfer funds. He also gave her money to buy food and juice. After struggling to reach him due to an issue with the okro soup she was to buy, she returned to the apartment and found him dead.

    “I saw blood stains, pushed the door open, and saw Michael on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse and there was none.”

    In panic, she wiped the blood off herself, changed clothes, and packed her things, including a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and documents belonging to one Mary Johnson. She also took some jewelry and left the apartment in a cab.

    The case was adjourned to April 28, for continuation of trial.

  • DNA sample on Chidinma’s dress matched Atagas’, says witness

    DNA sample on Chidinma’s dress matched Atagas’, says witness

    The eleventh prosecution witness, Dr. Richard Somiari in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu who was accused of killing the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Ataga, has said that the DNA blood samples found on chidinma’s blouse matched with that of Usifo Ataga.

    Somiari testified before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday, April 16.

    Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is charged with the murder of Ataga alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.

    Dr. Richard Somiari is the Centre Director/ Consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensics Centre and he testified as the eleventh prosecuting witness (PW11) in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwu.

    Led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Adenike Oluwafemi, Dr. Somiari stated that he has the highest level of oversight and produces administrative and technical reviews of report. 

    He also said: “I take part in evidence examination and crime scene processing. 

    “I have a PhD in Bio-chemistry. I have been practising in the area forensics for 15 years and I have conducted up to 500 forensics tests.”

    Giving his testimony, he said: “We received items of evidence from the investigative police officers.”

    The forensic analyst told the court that his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members. 

    He said the items were received for evidence and they included a stained red dress, an army green T-shirt, a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

    He added that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for toxicology report. 

    He said that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

    Read Also: Chidinma’s trial adjourned till Feb 13 over delay

    Somiari said that the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga. 

    However, he affirmed that the DNA did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, Oluwatomi Dada and Babalola Disu. 

    “In June, I received two different items of evidence from Rasak Oseni. An army green coloured T-shirt and a DNA reference sample from Chidinma Ojukwu. 

    “On July 14, 2021, we received five items of evidence, these were items retained in autopsy. They were Urine, blood, gastric content, and bile. These were received from Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Bamidele Olusegun, they were retained for toxicology.”

    During cross examination by the first defendant’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, Dr Somiari narrated how the report was forwarded from the office of the Assistant Inspector General to the Attorney General of Lagos state and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State. 

    “We have a code we use on that report markef 22021F-003. This code linked to his file, gives you access to the file at the DNA centre. And that links to the code used by the police and the pathologist. 

    This is standard practice, we do that to guard against unconscious bias.”

    The witness confirmed that his office received the report from the NMS laboratory and that it forwarded same report to the Assistant Inspector General, the Attorney General of Lagos state and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State. 

    The defense counsel queried if that is the procedure for all the over 500 reports he has done and the witness said no, that it depends on the case. He however stated that he read the report. 

    When asked if he queried the findings of Forensic Toxicologist, Dr. Andre Caroline Noble, he said: “I can’t query the report of a toxicologist because I’m not one. 

    “In my position as a center director, I make sure a report represents the samples of toxicology analysis. 

    He disagreed that there is no evidence to indicate that the report he sent did not represent the items he sent. 

    The witness was also told to confirm all the items as listed on the pages of the report from the NMS laboratory, 

    He started that two members of staff of his organization visited the crime scene, that the investigating police officer gives them access to the scene. 

    He stated that some items gotten from the scene were not analyzed because there were not considered probative. 

    The witness answered that the samples were not submitted. He, however, said that the markers indicated in his report had nothing to do with the video. He had earlier said that some samples were in storage but not tested. 

    The defense counsel requested for the video from the crime scene, to be played. The forensic analyst however stated that whoever took the video is not professional stating that there is no forensic reference. 

    Defense counsel said: “Page five of the report, questioned DNA samples. It is the same red blouse, the Short Tandem Refit (STR) profile obtained from this item does not belong to chidinma ojukwu, babalola olufemi disu, which means they are excluded from this. Confirm this is what you said? 

    Dr. Somiari replied: “For every DNA, 99% of our DNA will match using STR.” 

    Counsel to the second defendant, Babatunde Busari asked: “It was in evidence that your staff visited panti in the course of taking samples, were you informed by those staff that any sample from the second defendant, Adedapo Quadri was taken?  

    “No, the witness replied. 

    Busari asked again, You referred to a toxicology report in effect of your report this morning and you also said you are not a forensic toxicologist? 

    This means apart from receiving the samples from the Commissioner of Police, and forwarding same to NMS lab, you didn’t take part in the toxicology analysis? 

    The witness replied in the affirmative. 

    “We intend to file a no case submission on behalf of the second defendant”, said Busari. 

    The third defendant counsel, C. G. Ugochikwu, said that she had no examination for the witness. 

    Justice Adesanya adjourned till May 30 for continuation of trial.

  • Ataga alleged murder: Witness’ absence stalls trial

    Ataga alleged murder: Witness’ absence stalls trial

     The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, accused of the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Micheal Ataga, on Tuesday, was again stalled due to the absence of a prosecution witness.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case could not go on due to the ill health of the ninth prosecution witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, who was to continue with his evidence.

    Ojukwu is standing trial before a Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square, on a nine-count charge bordering on murder, theft and forgery.

    She is charged alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.

    On the last adjourned date, Dec. 7, the proceeding was also stalled due to the reported ill health of DSP Bamidele.

    Read Also: Ataga: Court admits defendant’s statements in murder trial

    When the case was called on Tuesday, Mr Babatunde Busari, counsel to Quadri, told the court that the prosecution counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed him that the witness was not fully recovered.

    He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case to enable the witness be present in court to conclude giving his evidence.

    After listening to the counsel, Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until Jan. 24, 2024 for continuation of trial.

    NAN reports that Ojukwu and the two others were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021 by the Lagos State Government.

    Ojukwu and Quadri, are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga. (NAN)