A 300-level University of Lagos student, Chidinma Ojukwu, standing trial for the alleged murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, yesterday told a Lagos State High Court that fear prevented her from reporting the incident to the police.
Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Tafawa Balewa Square division of the court, Chidinma explained her reluctance stemmed from previous reports of individuals being blamed after reporting crimes. She also admitted she had considered alerting the apartment’s gateman but ended the call due to anxiety.
Chidinma, along with co-defendants Adedapo Quadri and her sister Chioma Egbuchu, face a nine-count charge including murder, theft, and forgery. She began presenting her defence on April 17, 2025, detailing the events surrounding Ataga’s death in June 2021. According to her testimony, she noticed Ataga’s WhatsApp account was active even though she had seen him lying motionless in a pool of blood. Repeated attempts to reach him by phone failed, prompting suspicions that someone else may have had his phone.
She said she contacted the property’s gateman, Abu, who initially claimed Ataga had left the premises. However, he later confirmed that the victim’s vehicle was still parked there. Chidinma said she then messaged Ataga apologising and asking for forgiveness, stating, “I didn’t mean to leave you in that state. I was very scared,” after which she was blocked from his number.
Chidinma testified that she took two laptops, an HP and a MacBook, to Computer Village on June 18, 2021—one for repair and one to sell. She claimed the MacBook was a gift and, after negotiating, she sold it for ₦495,000. On June 20, she contacted her sister Chioma, who arrived in Lagos on June 22. Since Chioma had lost her phone in April, Chidinma gave her an old iPhone 7 Plus.