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.
