The trial of a 300-level Mass Communication undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the alleged murder of Usifo Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super Tv, was on Tuesday stalled no thanks to the absence of DSP Olusegun Bamidele, a prosecution witness.
Ojukwu is standing trial before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.
She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and Adedapo Quadri.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP), Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, told the court that the matter was for continuation of trial. But said that the witness, DSP Bamidele, the ninth prosecution witness, who had not finished his evidence, was absent in court.
According to the DDPP, the witness sent a text message, informing her that he was under the rain all morning, drenched and was unable to find transportation to the court.
She apologised for the witness’ absence.
Counsel for the defendants, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Mr Babatunde Busari and Miss M. A. Abia-Bassey, said that the prosecution counsel had earlier informed them of the development.
They did not object to the matter being adjourned.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya however adjourned further hearing in the trial till 27 October.
At the last adjourned date on 20 October, the matter did not go as the first defendant’s counsel sent a message that he lost a relative and was already in Anambra State at the time the case was called.
The third defendant, Quadri, was also not produced in court.
He called his lawyer, Babatunde Busari to inform him that there was a directive from the correctional facility that he should not be brought to court over security reasons, due to the second anniversary of ‘#EndSARS’.
On the last proceeding on 18 October, the recorded video footage of the confessional statement of Chidinma was played in court.
In the video footage, the first defendant denied killing Ataga. Chidinma, in the video, said she did not know who killed the deceased.
She said she went out, and by the time she got back, she saw Ataga on the floor and quickly picked up her things and left because she was scared.
However, on 11 October proceedings, when the video recording was first played, it showed the lifeless body of Ataga and later Chidinma’s confession where she said in the video that she killed the deceased on her own.
On 12 October, the matter also didn’t go on as the trial judge lost a relative and didn’t sit.
Chidinma was arraigned alongside two others Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu on 12 October 2021, on a nine-count charge of the alleged murder of Ataga preferred against them by Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of receiving a stolen iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
Ojukwu and Quadri were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on 15 June 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.
The incident took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.