Ataga’s Murder: Court Orders State To Release Exhibits To Defence Counsel

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting astatine Tafawa Balewa Square connected Monday directed the prosecution to assistance entree to lawyers of Chidinma Ojukwu, accused of the execution of Super TV Chief Executive Officer Michael Usifo Ataga, to definite exhibits tendered successful the case.

Some of the exhibits which the justice ordered to beryllium made disposable to the defence are mobile phones, laptops, and SIM cards belonging to some the deceased.

Justice Adesanya gave the bid aft entertaining an exertion filed by the archetypal defendant’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, requesting entree to the exhibits that had antecedently been released to the nominal complainant connected enslaved by the prosecution.

Ojukwu and 1 Adedayo Quadri were arraigned earlier the tribunal connected an eight-count complaint bordering connected the allegations of murder, forgery, and stealing.

They were accused of conspiring to execution Ataga connected June 15, 2021, by stabbing him respective times with a weapon successful the cervix and thorax astatine 19 Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

The authorities besides docked Chidinma’s sister, Egbuchu, from whom the precocious Ataga’s iPhone 7 was said to person been recovered connected a one-count complaint of receiving stolen property.

They each pleaded not blameworthy to the charge.

Egwu had claimed that the defence squad required entree to the exhibits successful bid to hole their client’s (Chidinma Ojukwu) defence.

The requested items see an iPhone 11 Pro (black), an iPhone XS (gold), an iPhone 7 Plus, a 2019 MacBook Pro (silver), an HP laptop, and 2 9Mobile SIM cards belonging to the archetypal defendant.
Items belonging to the deceased see an iPhone 8, an iPhone 12 Pro Max, and a MacBook Pro 13.

In her ruling, Justice Adesanya held that not each the items requested were successful the custody of the prosecution. However, she emphasised that each accused idiosyncratic has the close to entree exhibits applicable to their lawsuit successful bid to hole their defence.

After the ruling, the authoritative Yusuf Sule tendered 3 items—an iPhone 7, an iPhone 11, and an HP laptop—to the court.

However, the proceedings could not spell connected arsenic lone Chioma Egbuchu, the 3rd defendant, appeared successful court, portion Ojukwu and Quadri were absent owed to the planned #ReleaseNnamdiKanuNow nationwide protest. The justice has adjourned the lawsuit to October 27 for the continuation of the trial.