Alleged murder of Super TV CEO: Trial 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.

It was reported that 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.