Usifo Ataga: Chidinma to face murder trial before high court

A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Monday ordered that Chidinma Ojukwu charged with  murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super Television, Mr Usifo Ataga, should face trial for murder at the Lagos State High Court.

The court also ordered that one Adedapo Quadri  and  Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, found in possession of Ataga’s  iPhone 7, should face  trial for possessing stolen items.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, gave the order following legal advice from the the state Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The advice is to the effect that there is a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit forgery, making of documents without authority and stealing, against Chidinma.

In the advice dated Aug. 20, the DPP recommended that Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, who was found in possession of Ataga’s phone and had refused to release it, should be tried at the high court for being in possession of a suspected stolen item.

The DPP  said: “After careful consideration of facts available in the case file, this office is of the view that a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, forgery, making of documents without authority and stealing, contrary to Sections 222, 233, 363, 379 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015, has been established against Chidinma and two others.

” Facts available also established against Chidinma, the offence of having possession of things reasonably suspected to have been stolen, contrary to Section 329, of the Criminal Law of Lagos 2015.”

The magistrate, however, discharged Chidinma’s father, Onoh Ojukwu as well as one Babalola Disu, one Abayomi Olutayo and one Ifeoluwa Olowu, based on the DPP’s advice.

Reports said that the police had on Aug. 9, prayed the court to remand the suspects to enable the police to carry out further investigations into the case.

The court had granted the request and ordered that Chidinma and Adedapo Quadri  should be remanded for 30 days.

The police had also docked Chidinma’s father, Onoh Ojukwu, and four others for obstruction of justice.

Ojukwu, 57, and Babalola Disu, 42, were charged with obstructing the police from performing their duties and failing to report a crime to the police.

The others – Chioma Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23, and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23 – were accused of dishonestly receiving stolen items.