Murder Trial Of Chidinma Ojukwu Stalls Again

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu, charged with the murder of Mr Usifo Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, was halted on Thursday due to a case of ill-health by defence counsel.

Ojukwu, her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and Adedapo Quadri are on trial before a Lagos high court at Tafawa Balewa Square.

They are charged with nine counts of attempted murder, theft, and forgery.

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Ojukwu and Quadri face charges ranging from conspiracy to murder, stabbing, forgery, forging bank statements, and stealing.

Egbuchu is facing the ninth count of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the trial was also halted on May 12 due to Egbuchu’s change of counsel.

On May 12, Egbuchu’s new counsel, Mr Ngozi Akandu, requested that more legible documents be served on him.

He also asked for time to study them.

On Thursday, Mr Onwuka Egwu, counsel for Ojukwu, read to the court a letter written by Akandu informing the court that he was ill and requesting an adjournment.

Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, prosecution counsel and Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, stated in her response, “Anyone can fall sick at any time; thus, I do not oppose the application.”

Counsel for Ojukwu (first defendant) and Quadri (second defendant) agreed with the prosecution.

As a result, Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until July 7 to allow for the continuation of the trial.

According to NAN, the three defendants will be arraigned on October 12, 2021.

The Lagos State Government is prosecuting them.

On June 15, 2021, Ojukwu and Quadri are accused of conspiring to murder Ataga by stabbing him several times in the neck and chest with a knife.

No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, is where the alleged murder occurred.

The pair was also charged with forgery for obtaining and fabricating bank account statements purportedly made by the deceased.