Ataga: Lagos charges Chidinma Ojukwu, two others with murder

Hassan Muaz
The Lagos State government has filed a murder charge against Chidinma Ojukwu and two others for the killing of Michael Ataga, the chief executive officer of Super TV.
It filed the charge through the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Police prosecutor, Cyril Ajifor, said this on Monday when the defendants were brought before a magistrate court in Yaba.
Twenty-one-year-old Chidinma, a student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), was arrested on June 23 for Ataga’s murder at an apartment in Lekki.
The other suspect, one Adedapo Quadri, was presented with her before the Chief Magistrate’s at Yaba on August 9 and both were subsequently remanded for 30 days, to allow police continue with their investigation and also to await advice from the DPP.
Re-appearing before the magistrate on Monday, the police prosecutor told the court that the DPP had issued a legal advice on the case, recommending their trial for murder.
This means they will be arraigned at the High Court which has jurisdiction over such matters.
A copy of the DPP advice dated August 20, obtained by Premium Times stated that a prima facie case of conspiracy to murder, murder, and conspiracy to commit forgery was established against the suspects.
The DPP’s advice reads partly: “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 Chindinma 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.”
Meanwhile, four of five persons the police earlier arraigned before the magistrate for obstructing justice in the matter have been discharged.
Chidinma’s adopted father, Onoh Ojukwu, 57; Babalola Disu, 42; Jessica Egbuchu Chioma, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23 were earlier arraigned before the magistrate.
The DPP advised that all the defendants, except Ms Egbuchu, be discharged by the magistrate.
Egbuchu, who was allegedly found in possession of the deceased’s iPhone 7, will, however, continue her trial according to the advice.
The matter has been adjourned till September 29 for mention, and to await further information from the DPP as to the status of the case at the high court.
Source: https://theeagleonline.com.ng