Alleged murder of Ataga: Prime suspect Chidinma Ojukwu opens defence

The prime suspect in the murder of Super Television Chief Executive Officer Michael Ataga, Chidinma Ojukwu has opened up her defence in the murder case, saying that she discovered Ataga lifeless body in a Lekki short-let apartment on June 15, 2021.

Penpushing reports that Ojukwu, who wasa 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, for the murder made this known before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square.

The prime suspect at the resumed trial on Thursday, was led in evidence by her lawyer, Onwuka Egwu, narrating her relationship with the deceased, which began in November 2020,adding that she met the late Ataga through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James.

Penpushing further reports that she   described the deceased as kind and supportive, adding that he had once paid her school fees and supported her cosmetics business, recalling that Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City (VGC), and was in the media industry.

The accused added that the late television station boss told her that he had three children with his estranged wife who lived in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), explaining that on June 13, 2021, Ataga called her and told her that his birthday was coming up that week.

Penpushing also reports that Ojukwu stated Ataga invited her to spend the time with him before he would head to Abuja for a family celebration, adding that due to some renovations at the Victoria Garden City (VGC) home he suggested getting a hotel or an apartment in Lekki, where he had meetings.

“Due to some renovations at his VGC home, he suggested getting a hotel or an apartment in Lekki, where he had meetings. I eventually found a short-let apartment at 19, Adewale Street, Off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved. We met there that evening and went out to eat at Ango Villa restaurant. We picked up wine, then returned to the apartment to drink, eat, and smoke’, she narrated.

Penpushing reports that Ojukwu in addition to her narration explained how they spent their day on June 14, 2021, recalling that they woke up late that day, and Ataga asked her to contact her “Loud” (cannabis) and rohypnol supplier.

The former university undergraduate told the court that Ataga transferred N15,000 to her for narcotics and gave her N25,000 for food adding that she spent about two hours buying meals due to coronavirus-related delay.

Penpushing further reports that she stated that on June 15, 2021, Ataga again requested more “Loud,” but asked her to pay because he could not transfer funds and he also gave her money to buy food and juice.

“After struggling to reach him due to an issue with the okro soup I went to buy, I 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 pulse, but there was none’, she said.

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

Penpushing also reports that Thursday’s testimony of Ojukwu, was her first public comment on the murder allegation, contrasted with the prosecution’s case, and it is recalled that 11th prosecution witness, Richard Somiari, a forensic expert testifying last year said the DNA blood sample found on Ojukwu’s red dress matched that of the late Ataga.

The Director and Consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, said his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre, stating that the items that were received for evidence included a stained red dress, an army green T-shirt, and a DNA sample from Ojukwu.

Penpushing reports that Somiari told the court that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for toxicology reports, adding that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

The record equally has it that another prosecution witness Nkechi Mogbo the owner of the short-let apartment at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, where Ataga was murdered in November 2021 narrated what she knew about the case.

Penpushing further reports that Mogbo, told the court how a lady called and sought to have a look at her apartment, adding that she put a call through to the security, Abubakar, explaining that the lady would be coming to see the place.

The witness said upon checking, the lady, who identified herself with the name ‘Jewel’, said she would take the apartment for three apartments, and thereafter asked for payment details which she forwarded to her

“She asked for payment details, which I forwarded across to her, within a couple of minutes, she sent the proof of payment of N125,000. It contained the initiator of the payment, Michael Usifo, from a GTB account, the time and date of the transaction, and my name as the recipient,” she said.

Penpushing also reports that the owner of the apartment told the court that following the payment, the security man handed her the key to the apartment on the same day.

“Two days after, at about 5:30 p.m. – June 15, she was due to check out on June 16, I got a message from the lady that her friend would like to extend for three more days, and that he would be making the payment the next day, which would be on the 16th,” the witness said.

Penpushing reports that Mogbo said at 10 a.m. on June 16, she received a credit notification from the same GTBank account, confirming payment of N50, 000 for two additional days by the same Michael Usifo.

The witness said informed the court that hours later, she put a call across to her security man on a different issue, upon which he made a remark that they had noticed a body on the ground of the said apartment.

Penpushing further reports that she told the court she immediately started panicking but asked the whereabouts of the lady because the security man confirmed the deceased was a guy.

“He said she left the night before at about 7:30 to 8 p.m. and didn’t return. I got off the phone and tried to reach the lady. I put a call across to her but she cut the call, she then sent a message saying she was in a meeting. I didn’t want to alert her as to what I was aware of’.

“I carried on saying the payment which you sent in the morning, unfortunately, wasn’t credited, so can you make the payment again because I made a mistake to acknowledge receipt’, she stated.

“She said she would reach her friend for him to make the payment. Couple of minutes after, I got another initiation of payment for the same sum of N50, 000, from the same initiator, the person of  Michael’.

“When she made the payment, I was already on my way to the property to get a proper understanding of what had happened, after which I went straight to the police station,” she narrated.

Penpushing also reports that she said she sent a message to the lady that she had received the initial N50, 000 which she claimed she didn’t receive, and that she had given the security man the cash of the extra N50 000, so she should pick it from him.

“I devised the means to lure her to come to the property, after the security had confirmed she left the day before. She sent a message that would like to use the N50, 000 for another two days.”

Penpushing reports that, the sixth prosecution witness, Ibrahim Isiaka, a police inspector, who is the investigative police officer (IPO), also testifying in November 2022 said the police discovered the dead body of Ataga in a pool of his blood.

The prosecution witness explained that when the police got the information of the incident at the Maroko Police Station at Lekki, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) rushed down to the scene of the crime.

Penpushing further reports that the prosecution witness told the court that the Divisional Police Officer immediately called emergency at Yaba General hospital, who came and evacuated the corpse.

The witness added that, on June 16, 2021, at about 11:30 p.m., Mogbo, who is the owner of the service apartment where Ataga was killed, came to make a report of a murder case and told the police that her security guard, one Abu, had informed her that some people lodged at her facility, and that when the cleaner went to clean the apartment, they discovered a dead body.

Penpushing also reports that the witness informed the court that in Mogbo’s report, stated that the security guard and the cleaner, after calling the occupants of the apartment and there was no response, forced the door open and discovered that a man was lying in his pool of blood.

The prosecution witness added that based on the nature of the case, on June 17, 2021, the Divisional Police Officer, said the case should be immediately transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

Penpushing reports that the trial judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, however, adjourned the case until April 28, 2025 for continuation of trial.

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