Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga, testified on Thursday before the Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square, detailing how she discovered Ataga’s lifeless body in a short-let apartment in Lekki on June 15, 2021.
During her testimony before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the former 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos recounted returning from purchasing food and juice, knocking repeatedly without a response and then pushing the door open to find blood on the floor and Ataga lying motionless in a pool of blood.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she said emotionally, adding that his eyes were half-shut and there was no pulse.
Led in evidence by her counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Ojukwu recounted her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020.
They met through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described Ataga as kind and supportive, claiming he paid her school fees and helped finance her cosmetics business.
She revealed that Ataga, a media executive from Edo State residing in Victoria Garden City, had three children with his estranged wife based in Abuja.
According to her, on June 13, 2021, Ataga informed her of his upcoming birthday and invited her to spend time with him before traveling to Abuja for a family gathering.
“Due to ongoing renovations at his VGC residence, he suggested booking a hotel or short-let apartment in Lekki, where he had scheduled meetings,” she said.
Ojukwu stated that she found a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved.
According to her, they met there that evening, went out to eat at Ango Villa restaurant, bought wine and returned to the apartment to eat, drink and smoke.
On June 14, they woke up late and Ataga allegedly asked her to contact her supplier for ‘loud’ (cannabis) and rohypnol.
She said he sent N15,000 for that and later N25,000 for food. She was out for about two hours buying meals due to COVID-related restrictions and delays.
On June 15, she said Ataga requested more cannabis but asked her to pay since he was unable to transfer funds.
He also gave her money for food and juice. After a delay caused by a mix-up over the okro soup she was asked to buy, she returned to the apartment — only to be met with a horrifying scene.
“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 panic, she said she cleaned blood off herself, changed clothes and packed her belongings, including a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards and documents belonging to one Mary Johnson.
She also took some jewelry before leaving the apartment in a cab.
The case was adjourned till April 28, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
In related developments, the Lagos State High Court previously rejected no-case submissions filed by Ojukwu’s co-defendants, Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu, ordering them to open their defense.
Quadri and Egbuchu had argued that the prosecution failed to establish a case against them, but Justice Adesanya ruled that there was sufficient evidence for them to answer to the charges.
The prosecution alleges that Ojukwu and Quadri conspired to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest.
Egbuchu is charged with stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the deceased.
The trial continues to draw significant public attention as more details emerge.
