A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded in correctional services custody, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.
Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo made the ruling following legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) recommending the transfer of the case to the High Court.
Adedayo noted that the DPP’s August 20 opinion showed that there was prima facie evidence of no fewer than six offences against Miss Ojukwu and her alleged accomplice, Mr Adedapo Quadri.
The advice, issued to the court and police by DPP Director Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi on behalf of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, (SAN), further recommended the trial of one Egbuchu Chioma.
Chioma, believed to be Miss Ojukwu’s relation, is to face a charge of ‘Having possession of thing reasonably suspected to have been stolen’.
Mrs. Adedayo noted further that the report cleared 11 other suspects in the case including, Chidinma’s father, Mr Ojukwu Onoh’ and recommended that they should be released, as no offence was disclosed against them and they were all arrested based on mere suspicion.
The 11 listed by the DPP for release are: Babalola Disu, Olowu Ifeoluwa, Olutayo Abayomi, Nkechi Mogbo and Ojukwu Onoh.
Others are Tony Okonye, Damilola Adekoya, Bola Adekoya, Segun Akinsanya, Oluwatoni Dada, and Adams Kenneth.
She adjourned till September 29, for a report of filing of the murder case at the high court by the DPP.
Ojukwu, 21, and Quadri were appearing before the court after they were ordered to be remanded for 30 days at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre last August 9.
The report, seen by The Nation, states: “After careful consideration of facts available in the case file, 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, 2015, exists against Ojukwu Chidinma Adaora and Adedapo Quadri.
“A prima facie case of ‘stealing’ contrary to Section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 exists against Ojukwu Chidinma Adaora.
“Facts available also establish the offence of ‘having possession of thing reasonably suspected to have been stolen’ contrary to Section 329 of Criminal Law, Cap, C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015 against Egbuchu Chioma.”
Explaining why Chioma would be prosecuted, the report stated that she “was found in possession of the deceased’s iPhone 7.
“Even after she was told of the origin of the phone by the Police, she initially refused to release the phone on demand.”
