Super TV CEO’s Murder: DPP Recommends Chidinma, Others For Trial

The Prime Suspect, Chidinma

Super TV CEO’s Murder: DPP Recommends Chidinma, Others For Trial

A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court,Lagos, today, withdrew from the trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, who was alleged to have murder the Chief Executive Officer of Super Television, late Michael Usifo Ataga, before a Lagos State High Court.

Others to be tried alongside Chidinma before the State High Court over alleged murder of late Ataga are: Adedapo Quadri and Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, who was found in possession of the deceased’s iPhone 7.

The court presided over by Chief Magistrate (Mrs) Adeola Adedayo, withdrew from the suspects’s trial, following a Legal Advice issued by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) which indicates that “a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit forgery, making of documents without authority and stealing”, have been established against the Suspects.

Meanwhile, the court discharged Chidinma’s father Onoh Ojukwu, Babalola Disu, Abayomi Olutayo, and Ifeoluwa Olowu, who are the first, second, fourth and fifth defendants respectively, while also recommended the third defendant Chioma Egbuchu for trial, as indicated by the Legal Advice.

Chief Magistrate Adedayo, while adjoumment the matter till September 29, however ordered the remand of Chidinma and others, in the facility of the National Correctional Services (NCoS) pending their trial before a High Court

At the resumed hearing of the matter today, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Cyril Ejiofor, informed the court that the legal advice from the DPP, was out.

The DPP’s advice was read to the court, upon which the Chief Magistrate withdraw from the trial.

The Legal Advice issued on August 20, 2021, however cleared and discharged four other suspects and ordered that they should be released.

According to the DPP, a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, and conspiracy to commit forgery was established against the suspects.

Th Legal Advice reads: “After careful consideration of facts available in the case file, this office is of the view that a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, forgery, making of documents without authority and stealing contrary to Sections 233, 222, 411, 363 and 370 of the criminal laws of Lagos 2015, has been established against Chidinma and two others.

“Facts available also established against Chidinma, the offence of having possession of things reasonably suspected to have been stolen, contrary to Section 329, of the criminal law of Lagos 2015”, the DPP said.

The four suspects listed by the DPP for release are Onoh Ojukwu, Babalola Disu,Olutayo Abayomi and Olowu Ifeoluwa.

The DPP, after careful consideration of facts, said she was of the view that no offence had been disclosed against the other four persons in respect of the case.
“No offence has been disclosed against them and they should be released if still in custody,” Adeyemi said.

The police had on August, 9, 2021, brought a remand request before the court, asking the court to remand the suspects to enable the Police carry out further investigation in the case, the court granted the remand request and ordered that Chidinma and Adedapo, should be remanded for 30 days, and adjourned for the DPP’s legal advice.

But the police docked Chidinma’s adopted father, Onoh Ojukwu and four others for obstruction of justice.

Ojukwu, 57, and Babalola Disu, 42, were charged with obstructing the police from performing their duties and failing to report a crime to the police.

The other three defendants, Chioma Jessica  Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23, they were accused of dishonestly receiving stolen items.