Chidinma
The Lagos State’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) today, arraigned Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, Adedapo Quadri and Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, who are the three defendants in the alledged murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga, before an Igbosere High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos.
Two of the defendants were arraigned on an eight count-charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of fake bank statements and stealing preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
Also arraigned alongside the two defendants is Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, who is facing the nineth count charge of stealing an iPhone 7, belonging to late Ataga.
The charge against the defendants stated that on June 15, 2021 at number 19, Adewale Oshin Street, in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, the defendants conspired amongst themselves and allegedly murdered the deceased.
The first and second defendants (Chidinma and Adedapo), were also alleged to have murdered Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, by stabbing him severally on his neck and chest with a knife.
They were also alleged to have conspired together to commit forgery, by fraudulenty procuring the deceased’s ATM cards and bank statements, which they claimed was purportedly made by the deceased and that the defendants also forged First United Bank Limited bank account statement of one Mary, from June 1, 2021.
Furthermore, the charge also alledged that Chidinma and Adedapo forged 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, which were subsequently used to withdraw the sum of N380,000 from the deceased’s accounts.
The Prosecution also said that on June 22, 2021, Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu was found in possession of a stolen iPhone 7, property, of the late Usifo Ataga.
According to the prosecution, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 411, 233, 365 (2) b, 280, 329, of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, there was a mild drama when the second defendant, Adedapo pleaded guilty to the first count charge, but was quickly corrected by two counsel who told him to plead not guilty to the charge.
Meanwhile, Chidinma, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, who was arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, alongside Quadri and Egbuchi, had pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.
Earlier, Mr O. Egwu, announced his appearance as counsel for the first defendant, while Mr Babatunde Busari, announced his appearance for the second defendant and a Dr Babajide Martins from the Office of Public Defendant appeared for the third defendant.
Consequently, Justice Adesanya, remanded the first and second defendants in prison custody and allowed the third defendant to continue on the bail granted her at the Magistrate court while adjourning further trial till November, 9 and 11.
Ojukwu, 21, was alleged to have murdered Ataga, in a Service apartment in Lekki area of Lagos State.
Usifo was found dead with multiple stab wounds on June 16 at a short-let apartment on Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase I where he had checked in with his lover, Ojukwu.
The defendant was consequently arrested on June 23 in her father’s house in Yaba and paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja.
The 50-year-old Ataga, was buried on July 30 in a low-key ceremony attended by his family members, including his wife, and friends.
