Court Orders Prosecution To Produce Exhibits In Chidinma Ojukwu’s Murder Trial
The Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has ordered the prosecution to produce certain exhibits earlier released on bond to the nominal complainant in the ongoing trial of Miss Chidinma Ojukwu, who is facing charges over the alleged murder of the late Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Mr. Michael Usifo Ataga.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya gave the directive on Monday following an application filed by defence counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, on April 29, 2025, requesting access to the exhibits to enable the first defendant adequately prepare her defence.
Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is standing trial alongside Mr. Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuna on a three-count charge bordering on murder, conspiracy, and stealing, contrary to the provisions of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
In his application, Egwu informed the court that several electronic devices and SIM cards were among the exhibits recovered from Ojukwu’s apartment at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, during the course of police investigations.
He noted that the items, which form part of the prosecution’s evidence, had been released on bond to the nominal complainant.
The listed items include, for the first defendant, one black iPhone 11 Pro, one gold iPhone XS, one silver MacBook Pro (2019 model), one HP laptop, two 9Mobile SIM cards with numbers 09024366827 and 08188284433, and one iPhone 7 Plus. For the deceased, one iPhone 8, one iPhone 12 Pro Max, and one MacBook Pro 13 were also mentioned.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, informed the court that three exhibits, one iPhone 7, one iPhone 11 Pro Max, and one MacBook laptop were still in the custody of the prosecution and were presented in court.
He added that some of the requested items had already been tendered and were before the court as part of the evidence in the proceedings.
The court was, however, informed that the first and second defendants, Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri, were absent in court due to the nationwide protest that affected movement across Lagos State. Only the third defendant, Chioma Egbuna, was present for the proceedings.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Adesanya ordered the prosecution to ensure the production of the exhibits previously released on bond and adjourned the matter till October 27, 2025, for continuation of hearing.
The case, which began in 2021 after the discovery of the late Usifo Ataga’s body in a short-let apartment in Lekki, has now entered the defence stage. Ojukwu has already begun giving evidence in her own defence, while the first and second defendants remain in custody. The third defendant, Egbuna, continues to attend court from home following the bail granted to her by the court.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
