Chidinma Ojukwu, the former University of Lagos student standing trial for the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Ataga, told a Lagos High Court on Monday, October 27 that she never discussed Ataga’s d3ath with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri.
Ojukwu, a former Mass Communication student, gave the testimony during cross-examination by Quadri’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Busari, who sought to determine his client’s involvement in the murder.
Ojukwu is facing an eight-count charge, along with Quadri, bordering on conspiracy, murd3r, and st@bbing. A third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing a one-count charge of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.
At the resumed hearing, Ojukwu testified that her dealings with Quadri were strictly limited to the supply of drugs and the production of her school identification card.
“I never had any discussion with Adedapo Quadri about the death of Ataga,” Ojukwu stated. “The only transactions we had were for the supply of Loud [a form of cannabis] and Rohypnol. He also helped me to produce my school ID card.”
She maintained that Quadri knew nothing about what happened between her and Ataga at the apartment and that he never visited her throughout her stay there. Ojukwu added that she only called Quadri for the drug supply after Ataga mentioned he had just one stick of Loud left.
The defendant admitted that she took a brown envelope from the apartment when she left, explaining that it contained several personal documents belonging to the deceased.
“I took the brown envelope when I was leaving the apartment,” she said. “Inside it were Ataga’s driver’s licence, his ID card, office complimentary cards, a driver’s licence and international passport belonging to one Mary Johnson, as well as Access Bank and UBA statements of account.” She claimed she told police that she took the envelope home by mistake.
Earlier in the hearing, Justice Yetunde Adesanya ruled that several letters tendered by Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, requesting the production of certain items, were admissible in evidence.
Following the ruling, Egwu tendered several electronic devices through Ojukwu. She identified the devices, stating that an iPhone 7 Plus belonged to her sister, while an iPhone 11 Pro, an iPhone X, and a silver 2019 MacBook Pro were hers. She confirmed she had sold the MacBook to a vendor.
The prosecution alleges that Ojukwu and Quadri conspired to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest at a residence in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. The trial was adjourned until November 6 for continuation.
