The prime suspect in the murder of the chief executive officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, Chidinma Ojukwu, on Monday, told Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafa Balewa Square that her confessional statement to the police was not made voluntarily.
The former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos also told the judge that she failed to report the incident to the police because she was afraid of being accused of committing the murder.
Ojukwu and one Adebayo Quadri were arraigned before the court on an eight-count charge bordering on the allegations of murder, forgery, and stealing.
They were accused of conspiring to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest at 19 Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The state also docked Chidinma’s sister, Egbuchu, from whom the late Ataga’s iPhone 7 was said to have been recovered on a one-count charge of receiving stolen property.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
While testifying in her defence on Monday, Chidinma Ojukwu claimed that the police arrested her on June 23, 2021.
The defendant stated that she was later taken back to her house, where the officers searched her room and confiscated her phones, laptop, a disposable black bag containing the clothes she wore that day, documents mistakenly taken from the apartment, and complimentary cards with ID cards.
She claimed, “After that, I was taken to a smaller room. My left hand was handcuffed to the seat I was sitting on, and there were three or four officers present. Bamidele presented a plain sheet and a pen, instructing me to write a statement.
“I told the policeman, Sir, I know my rights, and a lawyer should be present. Bamidele responded, Which lawyer? “ I told my Dad to call a lawyer and check if one was coming.”
She said Bamidele informed her that no lawyer would come and no one would be allowed to see her at the station.
“Bamidele told me to listen to him, saying no one would save me from this mess. If I love my family, I should protect them; otherwise, they would be charged alongside me. He warned me that my dad was currently detained at the station, along with a family friend, my sister, and my 10-year-old sister.
“Bamidele told me I should listen to him, as no one could save me from this situation. He warned that if I loved my family, I needed to protect them; otherwise, they could be charged alongside me.
“He mentioned that my dad was currently detained at the station, along with a family friend, my sister, my 10-year-old sister, and any other family members he could find. He insisted I comply and stop being stubborn. Because of what he said, I started writing down my statement.
“All the officers present in the room waited until I was finished.
“Bamidele took my statement and dismissed it, saying it was nonsense. He asked, “What do you mean about his death?” and immediately tore up my statement. Then, the investigating officer handed me another blank sheet and said, “Now you are going to write what happened.” I replied, “Sir, I have already written what happened, and you tore it up.” He then pulled out his phone and showed me pictures of Michael lying on the apartment floor. He displayed photo after photo.
“He even showed me a piece of paper containing chat messages, claiming it was a conversation between me and the owner of the apartment, Nkechi. I insisted, “No, sir, I have never spoken to this person.”
“He showed me an image of a robe and pointed to Michael’s injured wrist. I exclaimed, “No, sir, I could not tie Michael; he is too large.” He insisted it was a lie, claiming that was the rope I used to restrain Michael, and I said again, “No, sir.”
“He presented items recovered from my house and my ID cards. He questioned why I had bank statements with me, and I said I didn’t know. Then he asked about my international passport, voter’s card, and driver’s license, to which I replied that I obtained them from Immigration. Finally, he inquired about my UNILAG ID card, and I confirmed that I am a student at UNILAG,” the defendant stated.
Justice Adesanya has adjourned the case until April 29 for further hearings.
