A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday heard emotional testimony from Chidinma Ojukwu, the 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) accused of killing Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga
Ojukwu, who is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri, faces charges of murder, stealing, and forgery. She was first arraigned on October 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge.
Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, Ojukwu recounted the events leading to Ataga’s death on June 15, 2021. She claimed she had stepped out of the short-let apartment they had rented in Lekki to buy food and juice. Upon returning, she said she knocked repeatedly but got no response. When she pushed the door open, she was confronted with a horrifying scene.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she told the court. “His eyes were half-open, and he had no pulse. There was blood all over the floor.”
Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma described her relationship with Ataga, which she said began in November 2020. According to her, they met through a mutual friend named Fiyin, who was dating one of Ataga’s friends. She described Ataga as kind and generous, saying he paid her tuition and supported her small cosmetics business.
She said Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City (VGC), worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife who lived in Abuja.
On June 13, 2021, Ataga called her and said his birthday was approaching. He invited her to spend time with him before he traveled to Abuja for a family celebration. Because his VGC home was undergoing renovations, he asked her to find a hotel or apartment in Lekki. She eventually secured a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, which he approved.
They met there that evening, dined at Ango Villa restaurant, bought wine, and returned to the apartment where they drank, ate, and smoked. The following day, June 14, she said Ataga asked her to get some cannabis (known locally as “loud”) and rohypnol. He reportedly sent her N15,000 for the substances and later N25,000 for food.
She claimed that on June 15, Ataga again asked for more loud but told her to pay as he couldn’t transfer money at the time. He also gave her money for food and juice. After struggling to reach him due to confusion over the okro soup she was supposed to get, she returned to the apartment to find him dead.
“I saw blood stains, pushed the door open, and saw Michael on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse, there was none,” she said.
In a state of panic, she said she cleaned herself up, changed clothes, and packed her belongings—including a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank documents, ID cards, and papers belonging to one Mary Johnson. She also took some jewelry before leaving the apartment in a cab.
The trial continues.
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