The office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, has recommended that three suspects, including Chidinma Ojukwu, should be charged for murder at a Lagos High Court over their alleged involvement in the death of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.
Chidinma, 21, who is a student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is to be charged alongside two others: her elder sister, Jessica Egbuchu Chioma, 28, and Mr Adedapo Quadri.
This was confirmed by Cyril Ajifor, the Lagos State Police Prosecutor on Monday. Ajifor informed a Yaba Magistrate Court, Lagos of the recommendations by the DPP to charge the defendants, who were brought before the court, for murder.
The Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, while confirming the recommendation, said that he had received a directive to remove himself from the case following the legal advice of the DPP on August 20th, recommending the murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu and four others for Ataga’s death.
Chidimma’s adopted father, Onoh Ojukwu, 57; Babalola Disu, 42; Abayomi Olutayo, 23, and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23 were discharged by the Magistrate Court. They were earlier arraigned before the Magistrate Court by the Police for obstructing justice in the case.
During the proceedings on Monday, while re-appearing before the Magistrate, the prosecutor said that the legal advice from the DPP on the case has recommended a murder trial, which means that all defendants would be arraigned at the Lagos High Court which has jurisdiction over such matters.
The DPP advice read: “After careful consideration of facts available in the case, this office is of the firm view that a prima facie case of conspiring to murder, murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit; forgery, forgery and making documents without authority contrary to sections 233, 222, 411, 363 and 370 respectively of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, exists against Ojukwu, Chidinma Adaora and Adedapo Quadri.
“Facts available also establish the offence of having possession of things reasonably suspected to have been stolen contrary to section 329 of criminal Law of Lagos against Egbuchu Chioma.”
Consequently, the DPP advised that all the defendants, except Ms Egbuchu, be discharged by the magistrate.
Ataga’s iPhone 7, was allegedly found in the possession of Egbuchu Chioma and for that reason she has to continue her trial according to the advice.
