Xjotdhj
Chidinma, foster father lied about Ataga’s death – Police
A Deputy Superintendent of Police, Olusegun Bamidele, on Tuesday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square that Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, and her foster father, Onoh Ojukwu, did not tell the police the truth on the incident.
Bamidele, who is serving with the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, disclosed this while being cross-examined by Chidinma’s lawyer, Mr Onwuka Egwu, during trial within trial.
Chidinma, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Akoka, is standing trial over the alleged murder of Ataga.
She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
On the last adjourned date, Bamidele, who is the ninth prosecution witness, told the court how Chidinma transferred the sum of N5m on June 15, 2021, from Ataga’s account to another account.
Bamidele said after the arrest of the first defendant on June 23, 2021, her statement was recorded on June 24, adding that she confessed to killing Ataga.
When the prosecution sought to admit the statement in evidence, Chidinma’s counsel, Egwu, refused, saying she did not make the statement voluntarily.
The prosecutor then prayed the court to conduct trial within trial for Chidinma.
Consequently, Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case till November 8 for trial within trial.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday, the Lagos State prosecuting counsel, T. E. Onilaja, announced appearance while Egwu also announced his appearance for the first defendant.
Bamidele, who was led in evidence in the trial within trial, narrated how Chidinma was arrested and how she was interrogated.
visit Punch Newspaper
