USIFO ATAGA: COURT REJECTS SECOND & THIRD DEFENDANT’S NO-CASE-SUBMISSION IN ONGOING MURDER CHARGE AGAINST CHIDINMA
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A Lagos state high court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday, rejected a no-case-submission filed by the second defendant, Adedapo Quadri and the third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu in the ongoing murder trial charge against Chidinma Ojukwu, ordering them to open their defenses.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the second and third defendants who had earlier filed a no-case submission, challenging the trial, were ordered to open their defenses.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
When the matter was called, Adesanya in her ruling said that the defendants still have cases to answer as the prosecution has established enough material evidence for them to enter defence in the matter.
She read that in the written address by the second defendant, the evidence laid to the third defendant is the one made by the ninth prosecution Witness in his examination-in-chief.
Egbuchu in her statement said she was contacted that the phone with her was a stolen phone and that the owner of the phone was dead.
She said she told the police that it was a gift from her sister (Chidinma), and that when she gave her the phone, she asked her where she got it from and that Chidinma said it was her boyfriend who gave her.
“The duty of the court is not to analyse the charge but, to examine the charge and if the evidence is established, then there is a case to answer and the no-case submission is overruled.”
“The first defendant during interrogation and statement recording told PW9 that it was the second defendant that helped her with the preparation of a UBA Bank account with the name Mary Johnson, Access Bank Statement, driving licence and passport.
“The second defendant also, confessed that he helped the first defendant prepare the said documents.”
The evidence laid to the third defendant is the one made by the ninth prosecution witness in his examination-in-chief and the statement of the third defendant, Egbuchu.
“I have carefully considered the exhibits, both the second and third defendants have a case to answer. From the totality of the evidence before me, I reject the no-case submissions of the second and third defendants.
“I call on the second and third defendants to enter their defence,” the judge said.
The former 300-level Mass Communication undergraduate of the University of Lagos is standing trial for the allegedy murder of the Chief Executive Officer of SuperTv, Usifo Micheal Ataga.
She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu. Chidinma was arraigned on October 12, 2021 on a nine-count charge preferred against her.
The matter was adjourned till 9th, 14th, 15th, 17th and 29th April for defense.
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