A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, had on Monday, the 6th of September, 2021, ordered that Chidinma Ojukwu, the main suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, should be tried for murder in the Lagos state high court.
The court also ordered that one Adedapo Quadri should face trial for Ataga’s murder while Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, found in possession of Ataga’s iPhone 7, should face trial for possessing stolen items.
Adeola Adedayo, the Chief Magistrate, gave the order following legal advice from 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 with 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.”
Chidinma’s father, Onoh Ojukwu, was discharged by the magistrate, as well as one Babalola Disu, one Abayomi Olutayo, and one Ifeoluwa Olowu, based on the DPP’s advice.
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 be remanded for 30 days.
The others – Chioma Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23, and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23 – were accused of dishonestly receiving stolen items.