Usifo Ataga: Illegible statements, inaudible audio stall Chidinma’s trial – Newstrends
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Usifo Ataga: Illegible statements, inaudible audio stall Chidinma’s trial

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Michael Ataga and Chidinma Ojukwu

The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, who allegedly murdered Super TV’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga, before a Lagos State High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square TBS, was Tuesday, stalled due to illegible statements served on the defence counsel.

The defence counsel told the court that the statements contained in the proof of evidence served on them were all illegible and that the audio interviews of the defendants were also inaudible.

They stated that the defendants had a right to clearer statements and audible video interviews as it would enable them prepare their defence adequately.

In a short ruling Justice Yetunde Adesanya, directed the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, to provide clearer statements and audible copies of the interviews to all the defence counsel before the end of the day.

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Earlier, the DPP, Mrs Addyinka Adeyemi, announced her appearance for the prosecution, while Mr Onwuka Egbu, Mr Babatunde Busari and Mr A.O. Ogunsanya appeared for the first to third defendants, respectively.

Adeyemi told the court that she had two witnesses in court and was ready to commence trial, but Egwu informed the court that he had a pending application before the court that was ripe for hearing.

He said that in his application he was praying for more legible statements, as the ones contained in the proof of evidence the prosecution served him were illegible.

Counsel to the second defendant, Busari, also aligned himself with the submission of the first defence counsel and further complained that the video recordings of the interviews were not served on him.

The counsel to the third defendant, Ogunsanya, from the Office of the Public Defender OPD, told the court that the video interviews of the defendants that were served on him were not audible.

He aligned with previous submissions that the statements he was served were also not clear.

The defence counsel submitted that they needed all these documents to enable them prepare for the trial adequately.

Adeyemi told the court that she would send soft copies of all the proof of evidence to each defence counsel email before the end of the day.

The charges, accused

The three defendants were arraigned on October 12, on a nine-count charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.

The Lagos State government accused them of allegedly murdering the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga.

In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves and murdered Ataga on June 15, by stabbing him several times with a knife on his neck and chest.

The incident took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri are facing the first seven counts on the charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

While the third defendant, who is the first defendant’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count charge of stealing iPhone 7, phone, belonging to the late Ataga.

The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.

They were also alleged to have forged a bank account statement of one Mary from June 1, an international passport and a driver’s license in Chidinma’s name.

In count eight, Chidinma was accused of stealing two mobiles, one laptop and ATM cards belonging to the late Usifo Ataga, from which N380,000 was subsequently withdrawn.

It was also alleged that on June 22, Chidinma’s sister, Chioma, was found in possession of a stolen phone, property of the late Usifo Ataga.

Meanwhile, Adesanya adjourned the matter to November, 11, 15, 16, 17, 26 and 30 for trial.

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Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

Police rearrest popular singer, Speed Darlington

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Hamdiyya Sidi makes U-turn, apologises to Sokoto gov over video on insecurity

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Governor Ahmed Aliyu and Hamdiyya Sidi

Hamdiyya Sidi makes U-turn, apologises to Sokoto gov over video on insecurity

In a significant development, a Sokoto-based rights activist, Hamdiyya Sidi, being prosecuted by Governor Ahmed Aliyu-led Sokoto government for allegedly making inciting statements, has made a U-turn and issued a public apology to the state government.

Sidi was reportedly arrested for “embarrassing” Governor Aliyu, on social media.

She was subsequently arraigned secretly without having access to a lawyer nor family members, a source had said.

The woman had in a video lamented the insecurity in the state and demanded an end to the incessant killings by bandits.

She had reportedly revealed how gunmen took over villages without any restraint and added that displaced women seeking refuge in the state capital were being sexually exploited due to abject poverty.

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But in a new video shared on social media, Sidi stated in Hausa, “My name is Hamdiyya Sidi Sheriff from Sokoto state, Wurno Local Government Area.

“I am the individual who recently created a video highlighting the pressing issues of insecurity and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sokoto State.

“I’m apologising as a woman and a Muslim from Sokoto because I used some words in the video when I made reference to the governor’s wife and his family.

“The words are too heavy considering my age. The words weren’t supposed to have come from me.

“And the other comment I made that the IDPs should move into government facilities and occupy them, I regret saying that too.

“Please for God’s sake, I’m sorry, nobody has the right to move into or occupy a government facility without due process and permission.

“For the government, governor and anyone that my comment has affected, I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

Sokoto is one of states in Northern Nigeria plagued by bandits who raid and loot villages, kill residents and burn houses to the ground.

 

Hamdiyya Sidi makes U-turn, apologises to Sokoto gov over video on insecurity

(SAHARAREPORTERS)

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Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed

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Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed

A bystander was fat@lly struck by a stray bullet when some Nigerian Customs Service officers and smugglers clashed in the Obada Idi-Emi area of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State on Monday, Nov. 25.

The violent confrontation began earlier in the day, with gunshots ringing out, throwing the community into panic.

As both sides exchanged gunfire, a resident identified as Kazeem was k!lled by a stray bullet.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Services, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed the incident to Punch. Oloyede said officers of the command had received intelligence about a smuggling activity of some foreign rice and they trailed the vehicle.

He added that when the driver of the vehicle observed that he had been trailed, he abandoned the smuggled item and the vehicle in a bid to evade arrest and fled the scene.

He said: “On Monday, November 25, 2024, at about 1109hrs, the operatives of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area 1 Command received credible information on a Mazda 323 laden with bags of Imported rice. A surveillance team was deployed in a private vehicle to trail and give real-time updates on the Information.

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“Upon confirmation, The team with the official patrol vehicle swung into action along the bush paths of Owode-Obada and intercepted one MAZDA 323 loaded with foreign rice of 50kg each at the said Owode Obada axis. The driver abandoned the vehicle upon sighting the official patrol vehicle and managed to evade arrest.

“While conveying the intercepted vehicle with foreign rice to the Government Warehouse for documentation, the intercepted vehicle broke down at Obada town. Given the volatile nature of the area, the team leader directed that the intercepted rice be evacuated into the official patrol Hilux.”

He added that some suspected hoodlums attacked the officers while they were transloading the seized contraband which led to a free-for-all between the officers and the hoodlums.

The Ogun Customs PRO added that during the ensuing melee, the customs officers fled the scene to ensure their safety. One officer (pictured above) was injured.

Oloyede said that an investigation has commenced into the matter.

 

Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed

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