Ataga’s Murder: Court Adjourns Case To Tuesday Over Witness' Lack Of Composure

The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, before a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was stalled on Monday due to a prosecution witness' lack of composure. 

Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, (first defendant), and two others are on trial over Ataga’s murder.
 

Chidinma is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
 
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the prosecution lawyer, Yusuf Sule, asked the court to adjourn the trial till Tuesday, November 30, saying their witness had just arrived at the court from Asaba, Delta State that morning (Monday).

Sule said, “We would be asking for an adjournment for tomorrow on the grounds that the witness we are calling just came in from Asaba this morning and he is not really composed.”
 
According to a video of the BBC Pidgin seen by SaharaReporters, Chidinma was taken back to the white bus that conveyed her to the court as the reporter said the witnneses were not in court.
 
She arrived at the court around 10 am but was led back to the vehicle a few minutes after her arrival.
 
The first defendant’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, did not object to the application of the prosecution.
 
The second defendant’s counsel Babatunde Busari, said though he was not opposed the application, the prosecution team could have called other witnesses. 
The third defendant's counsel O. A. Ogunsanya said they would oblige the prosecution’s adjournment for the sake of justice.
Subsequently, Justice Yetunde Adesanya granted the oral application for adjournment and adjourned the case till Tuesday, November 30 for continuation of trial.
 
At the last adjourned date, a businessman, Ifeoluwa Oluwo, had narrated to the Court how he bought the late Ataga’s laptop for N495,000 from Chidinma.
 
The three defendants were arraigned on October 12 on nine counts preferred against them by Lagos State Government.
 
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
 
The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing a phone belonging to the late Ataga.
 
The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, by stabbing him several times in the neck and chest with a knife. 
 
The alleged murder took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
 
Chidinma and Quadri were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

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