Usifo Ataga: Illegible Statements Stall Chidinma’s Trial
On Tuesday, the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, who was accused of killing Usifo Ataga, CEO of Super TV, was halted due to illegible statements placed on defence counsel before a Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS).
According to NAN, the defence counsels protested that the statements contained in the proof of evidence served on them were all unreadable, and that the defendants’ audio interviews were likewise inaudible.
They claimed that the defendants had a right to clearer remarks and audible video interviews in order to effectively prepare their defense.
In her judgement, Justice Yetunde Adesanya asked the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to deliver clearer statements and audio copies of the interviews to all defense counsels by the end of the day.
Adesanya also rescheduled the trial for November 11, 15, 16, 17, 26, and 30.
Mrs. A.O. Adeyemi had already entered an appearance for the prosecution from the DPP, while Mr. Onwuka Egbu, Mr. Babatunde Busari, and Mr. A.O. Ogunsanya had appeared for the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
Adeyemi told the court that she had two witnesses in court and was ready to begin the trial, but Egwu informed the court that he had a pending application before the court that was ripe for hearing.
He said that in his application, he was praying for more legible statements, as the ones contained in the proof of evidence the prosecution served him were illegible.
Counsel to the second defendant, Busari, aligned with the submission of the first defence counsel and further complained that the video recordings of the interviews were not served on him.
On his part, counsel to the third defendant, Ogunsanya, from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), told the court that the video interviews of the defendants that were served on him were not audible.
He aligned with previous submissions that the statements he was served were also not clear.
The defence counsels submitted that they needed all these documents to enable them to prepare for the trial adequately.
Adeyemi told the court that she would send soft copies of all the proof of evidence to each defence counsels’ email before the end of the day.
Recall that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12, on a nine-count charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
They had allegedly murdered the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga.
The first two defendants, Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri are facing the first eight counts on the charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, who is the first defendant’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count charge of stealing iPhone 7, phone, belonging to the late Ataga.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on his neck and chest.
The incident took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
They were also alleged to have forged United Bank of Africa account statement of one Mary from June 1, 2021, an international passport and a driver’s license in Chidinma’s name
