I NEVER DISCUSSED ATAGA’S DEATH WITH ADEDAPO QUADRI – CHIDINMA TELLS COURT

By Aishat Momoh. O.

Chidinma Ojukwu, a former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, on Monday told the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Annex that she never discussed the death of the late Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Michael Ataga, with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri, at any point before, during, or after the incident.

Ojukwu made the statement while testifying under cross-examination by the second defendant’s counsel, Babatunde Busari, before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.

‎The defendant, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of Ataga, maintained that her only conversation with Quadri was about payment for some items Loud smoke and Rephinol which she had asked him to help procure.

When asked if Quadri ever visited the short-let apartment where she stayed with the deceased or knew about the activities that took place there, Ojukwu replied,  “Apart from contacting the second defendant, he was unaware of the activities going on at the apartment and he never visited.”

‎Ojukwu also clarified that Quadri only assisted her in obtaining her school ID card, insisting she independently processed her international passport legally.

During the proceedings, Busari questioned her about documents found in an envelope she allegedly took from the apartment after Ataga’s death. She identified the items as a  driver’s license bearing  Mary Johnson, another bearing Ataga Michael, and bank statements from UBA and Access Bank in the same names.

‎Earlier in the session, Ojukwu’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, during examination-in-chief, presented an iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 11 Pro, and a 2019 MacBook Pro (16-inch), which Ojukwu identified as her personal belongings.

‎She explained,  “This is an iPhone 7 Plus; it is my old phone that I gave to my sister. The iPhone 11 Pro was the one I was using alongside my iPhone X. This MacBook Pro was mine, which I later sold to a vendor called Home Gadgets.”

Before this testimony, the court listened to submissions by Ojukwu’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, who reminded the judge that at the last sitting, 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.”

However, prosecution counsel, Yusuf Sule, told the court that the prosecution did not come across any such document.

After hearing both parties, Justice Yetunde Adesanya overruled the prosecution’s objections and 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 (DPP), requesting for exhibits and duly acknowledged, was admissible.

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

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

She further admitted copies of letters addressed to the Ministry of Justice, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, and the Inspector-General of Police, as well as copies sent to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and Panti.

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 also tendered an iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone X, and a MacBook through Ojukwu.

‎Justice Adesanya admitted the items as exhibits D14, D15, and D16, respectively. The court also admitted a handwritten letter by Ojukwu (Exhibit D9) requesting Mr. Egwu to represent her, as well as Egwu’s formal letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), copied to the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Police.

‎Justice Adesanya adjourned the matter to November 6, 11, and 12, 2025, for continuation of trial.

Chidinma Ojukwu, alongside her sister Chioma Egbuchu and Adedapo Quadri, were arraigned on October 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge bordering on murder, stealing, and forgery.