Court order release of exhibits to Chidimma Ojukwu as she resume defense for murder trial

Di Lagos state High Court TBS don give ruling to allow Chidimma Ojukwu defense team to access exhibits wey prosecution team bin release to di complainant ontop di case of murder of Super TV boss Michael Usifo Ataga.

Dis dey come afta first defendant lawyer approach di court wit application to collect di exhibits since April 2025.

Chidimma Ojukwu dey accused of allegedly killing businessman and Super TV oga Michael Ataga. Im and two others dey face charges wey include murder, conspiracy and stealing.

Onwuka Egwu wey dey lead Chidimma defense say di exhibits dem dey demand from di court include phones, laptops and phone numbers wey belong to both di victim and defendants, say dem wan use am to run her defense.

Di items na iPhone 11 Pro black color, iPhone XS gold color, iPhone 7 Plus, MacBook Pro 2019 silver color, one Hp laptop, two 9Mobile SIM cards - all belong to di first defendant.

Oda items wey belong to di deceased Michael Ataga na iPhone 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max and MacBook Pro 13.

Wen di case come up in court on Monday, Justice Yetunde Adesanya rule say no be evritin wey di defense counsel dey ask for dey wit di prosecution.

She say evri accused pesin get right to use exhibit wey involved in di case to defend himself or herself.

Afta di ruling, di prosecution counsel Y.A. Sule release three items to di court, dem include one IPhone 7, one iPhone 11 and one laptop.

Only Chioma Egbuna appear for court, as Chidimma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri no fit come court sake of planned nationwide protest for Nigeria.

Barrister Babatunde Busari appear for second defendant while OJ appear for di third defendant.

Di court adjourn di case to 27th October, 6th, 11th and 12th of November 2025 for continuation of trial.

Backgorund of Chidimma Ojukwu trial

Di case don dey go on since 2021 wen police arrest Chidimma Ojukwu afta dem find deadi bodi of Michael Ataga for room wia him and Chidimma bin lodge.

So far, di prosecution counsel don close dia case for di court, now na Chidimma turn to prove say she no dey guilty.

Afta her final defense, court go give judgement ontop di matter.

Meanwhile Chidimma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri dey prison custody since den, while her sister Chioma Egbuna dey from home come di trial, as she dey on bail.

Chidinma testimony so far

So far for di case, di prosecution team don conclude dia presentation and sample all dia witnesses, while Chidinma don begin her defense.

Last time di case come up in court for April, court admit two different statements wey Chidinma write wen dem bin arrest am.

She bin don earlier tell court say no be she kill di deceased, say she come back to dia hotel room and meet di man in di pool of im own blood.

During her recent testimony for court, Chidinma tell court say afta she comot from di apartment to go buy food and juice, she bin comeback to di apartment, knock di door but she no get any response.

She push di door open, na wen she see a disturbing scene: blood stains for floor and Ataga dey lie down motionless in a pool of blood.

"I drop evritin wey I bin dey hold, I rush go meet am," she testify. "Im eye dey half-open and im pulse bin no dey."

Chidinma describe her relationship wit Ataga, she say na for November 2020 e start, afta dem bin introduce am to her by one mutual friend, Fiyin wey be di girlfriend of Ataga friend, James.

She say Ataga dey supportive and generous, she claim say im bin don pay her school fees and give financial support for her cosmetics business.

She tell court say Ataga bin contact her on 13 June, 2021, wen im inform her say im birthday dey come and im invite her to spend time wit am bifor im scheduled trip to Abuja for a family celebration.

Sake of renovations for wia im dey stay for Victoria Garden City (VGC), she say Ataga bin suggest make dem book hotel or short-let apartment for Lekki, wia im bin get business meetings.

She get one apartment for 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, wey Ataga approve.

For evening dat same day, dem bin meet for di apartment, dem go out togeda go eat for Ango Villa restaurant wia dem bin buy wine, dem later go back to spend di night togeda, drinking, eating, and smoking.

She also tell di court say di following day wey be 14 June, Ataga bin ask her to help am buy loud (one type of Igbo) and rohypnol.

Im send her N15,000 to buy am, im later send anoda N25,000 for food.

On 15 June she tok say Ataga request for di loud again, im tell her to pay for am sake of say im bin no fit do bank transfer dat time.

Im bin also give her money for food and juice.

Wen she comeback to di apartment wen she finish her shopping, Chidinma narrate how she bin struggle to reach Ataga becos of di food order.

Wen she eventually arrive, she see say di door dey slightly open, and as she enta inside, she see im deadibody.

"I bin dey in shock, I wipe di blood off myself, change my clothes, and pack my belongings," she tok

Among di items wey she agree say she bin take from di apartment na brown envelope wey contain Ataga bank statements, im ID cards, documents wey belong to one Mary Johnson, and some pieces of jewelry.