Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi on Tuesday arraigned Chindima Ojukwu, and two others before a Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square(TBS), presided over by Justice Yetunde Adesanya, for the murder of SuperTV founder, Michael Ataga.
Others arraigned with her include a man, Adedapo Quadri, and her sister, Chioma in whose possession police recovered Ataga’s iPhone 7.
The DPP had preferred nine count charge that bothers on murder, forgery, and stealing against her. She however pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The other accused persons equally pleaded not guilty.
Chidinma and her co defendants were brought to court by prison warders putting on veil to conceal her face from the cameras. Her formal arrangement was a follow-up to the legal advice issued by the Lagos DPP establishing a prima facie case against her. Others recommended for trial with her are Adedapo Quadri and Egbuchu Chioma.
The 22-year-old student of the University of Lagos was arrested by the police on June 23 for killing Mr Usifo at a short-let apartment in Lekki.
The suspect and one Adedapo Quadri were presented before the Chief Magistrate at Yaba on August 9 by the police to seek their remand in custody, which was granted by the magistrate.
The magistrate ordered the duo be remanded for 30 days at the first instance to allow the police continue with its investigation of the murder case and also advice from the DPP.
Re-appearing before the magistrate the police prosecutor told the court that the DPP had issued a legal advice on the case, recommending their trial for murder. This, he said, implies that they would be arraigned at the high court which has jurisdiction over such matters. The persons to be charged are Ms Ojukwu; her elder sister, Chioma Egbuchu; and Mr Quadri.
A copy of the DPP advice dated August 20, stated that a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, and conspiracy to commit forgery was established against the suspects.
“After careful consideration of facts available in the case, this office is of the firm view that a prima facie case of conspiring to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit; forgery, forgery and making documents without authority contrary to sections 233, 222, 411, 363 and 370 respectively of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, exists against Ojukwu Chindinma Adaora and Adedapo Quadri”.
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