Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, testified in Lagos High Court, detailing her discovery of his lifeless body in a Lekki apartment on June 15, 2021
Chidinma Ojukwu, the primary suspect in the alleged murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer Michael Usifo Ataga, gave her testimony today at the Lagos High Court, recounting the events of June 15, 2021, when she claims to have discovered Ataga’s body in a short-let apartment in Lekki, Lagos.
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Appearing before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos stated that upon her return to the apartment with food and juice, she knocked on the door but received no response.
She then pushed the door open and found Ataga lying lifelessly in a pool of blood, with blood splattered on the surrounding floor.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” Ojukwu testified, adding that Ataga’s eyes were half-closed and she could not detect a pulse.
Under examination by her legal counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Ojukwu provided details about her relationship with the deceased, which she said began in November 2020.
She explained that they were introduced through a mutual friend named Fiyin, who was in a relationship with Ataga’s friend, James. Ojukwu described Ataga as a kind and supportive individual, claiming he had assisted her financially by paying her school fees and supporting her cosmetics business.
According to Ojukwu’s testimony, Ataga had informed her that he was from Edo State, resided in Victoria Garden City (VGC), worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife who lived in Abuja.
She recounted that on June 13, 2021, Ataga contacted her, mentioning it was his birthday week and inviting her to spend time with him before he traveled to Abuja for a family celebration.
Due to ongoing renovations at his VGC residence, he suggested securing a hotel or apartment in Lekki, where he also had business meetings scheduled.
Ojukwu stated that she eventually found a suitable short-let apartment located at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga subsequently approved.
They met at the apartment that evening, went out for dinner at Ango Villa restaurant, purchased wine, and returned to the apartment where they drank, ate, and smoked.
On June 14, 2021, Ojukwu testified that they woke up late, and Ataga requested that she contact her supplier for cannabis (referred to as “loud”) and rohypnol. She said he provided her with N15,000 for this purpose and later sent an additional N25,000 for food.
She explained that her outing to purchase the meals took approximately two hours due to delays related to COVID-19 protocols.
Regarding June 15, 2021, Ojukwu stated that Ataga again asked for more cannabis but requested that she pay for it as he was unable to transfer funds at that time.
He also gave her money to buy food and juice. Ojukwu recounted experiencing difficulties in reaching him due to an issue with the okro soup she had gone to purchase. Upon her return to the apartment, she claimed to have found him dead.
“I saw bloodstains, pushed the door open, and saw him on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse, there was none,” she claimed in court.
In a state of panic, Ojukwu testified that she wiped blood off herself, changed her clothes, and gathered her belongings.
These belongings, she said, included a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, identification cards, and documents belonging to a certain Mary Johnson. She also admitted to taking some jewelry before leaving the apartment in a taxi.
