I didn’t discuss Usifo Ataga’s death With co-defendant – Chidinma

Former University of Lagos student, Chidinma Ojukwu, on Monday, told the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square that she never discussed the death of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri.

Ojukwu, a former 300-level Mass Communication student, clarified during her testimony that her interactions with Quadri were strictly limited to the supply of “Loud” (a form of cannabis) and Rohypnol, as well as his help in producing her school identity card.

“I never had any discussion with Adedapo Quadri about the death of Mr. Ataga,” Ojukwu told the court during cross-examination by the second defendant’s counsel, Babatunde Busari.

“The only transactions we had were for the supply of Loud and Rohypnol. He also helped me produce my school ID card,” she said.

READ ALSO: Murder: Real reason I didn’t report Ataga’s death – Chidinma

Ojukwu and Quadri are accused of conspiring to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

She is standing trial alongside Quadri and a third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu, who is her sister on a nine-count charge filed by the Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing, while Egbuchu is facing one count of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.

The defendants were arraigned on October 12, 2021.

At the resumed hearing of the trial on Monday, Quadri’s lawyer, Babatunde Busari, cross-examined Ojukwu, who insisted that Quadri was unaware of her activities with Ataga at the short-let apartment in Lekki where the incident occurred.

“Quadri didn’t know anything that happened between me and Mr. Ataga at the apartment.

“He never visited me there throughout my stay. I only called him to supply Loud and Rohypnol after Mr. Ataga said he had just one stick of Loud left,” she said.

Ojukwu admitted to taking a brown envelope from the apartment where the incident occurred when she left, explaining that it contained several personal documents belonging to Ataga and Mary Johnson.

“I took the brown envelope when I was leaving the apartment,” she said.

She confirmed that the items inside the brown envelope were “Mr. Ataga’s ID card, office complimentary cards, a driving licence, his Access Bank statement, a passport belonging to one Mary Johnson, as well as UBA statements of account.”

She said she informed the police during interrogation at her Yaba residence that she had taken the envelope by mistake.

“When the police came to my house at No. 57 Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, I told DSP Olusegun Bamidele that I mistakenly took the envelope home,” Ojukwu told the court.

The defendant also clarified that she obtained her passport by herself and that another person, not Quadri, helped her get her driving licence and other documents.

“My conversation with Quadri on the phone was only about Loud and Rohypnol,” she said.

Earlier in the proceedings, prosecution counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, announced his appearance, while Mr. Onwuka Egwu represented Ojukwu. M.A. Abiabasi appeared for the third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu.

Egwu reminded the court that at the last adjourned date, he had sought to tender certain letters which the prosecution had objected to.

He said, “I wrote a letter to the prosecution on October 29, 2021, requesting the production of items released on bond to the nominal complainant.”

Sule, however, told the court that the prosecution did not come across any such document.

After hearing both parties, Justice Yetunde Adesanya directed Egwu to tender the letters.

Egwu tendered four letters through Ojukwu, all of which were admitted in evidence.

In her ruling, Justice Adesanya held that the letter dated October 29, 2021, addressed to the Director of Public Prosecutions and duly acknowledged, was admissible.

“The letter is properly before the court and is therefore admissible in evidence,” the judge said.

She also admitted other letters addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and the Inspector-General of Police, copies of which were sent to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Panti.

The judge further admitted Ojukwu’s handwritten letter appointing Egwu as her counsel, ruling that “the document attached to the previous correspondence is admissible.”

Justice Adesanya overruled the prosecution’s objection to not tendering the documents through Ojukwu.

The judge held,” The maker of this document is relevant and the relevance is therefore relevant as relevance can be, the objection is overruled and I so hold”.

Following the ruling, Egwu tendered an iPhone 7 Plus, an iPhone 11 Pro, an iPhone X, and a MacBook through Ojukwu.

She identified the devices, saying, “The iPhone 7 Plus belongs to my sister, while the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone X, and the silver 2019 MacBook Pro are mine. I sold the MacBook to a vendor.”

Justice Adesanya adjourned the case to November 6, 2025, for continuation of the trial.

(Punch)