Ataga: Lagos Court told how late Super TV boss’ lifeless body was found

A Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was yesterday, told how the lifeless body of Michael Usifo Ataga , the Super TV Chief Executive Officer was found in the short service apartment.
 
Nkechi Mogbo, the prosecution witness, at on-going trial of Chidinma Ojukwu alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri, over alleged murder of Ataga, narrated how the body was found.
   
Mogbo, is the owner of the short service apartment, where the late Super TV’s Chief Executive Officer, was allegedly murdered by Chidinma Ojukwu, said to be a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos.
   

“ I called my security guard at the apartment and informed him that someone was coming to check the place. Afterwards, the lady through a WhatsApp message confirmed to me that she would take the apartment for three days.
 
“She mentioned that her name was Jewel and I forwarded payment details. Thereafter, she sent proof of payment of N125,000, to me via  WhatsApp. The payment was made through a Guaranty Trust Bank account from one Mr. Michael Usifo, which had a time and date of transfer and my name as recipient.”
   
Mogbon testified that the payment was made from the first initiator, which was Mr. Michael and she confirmed receipt.
   
She said that hours later, she put a call across to her security guard on another issue upon which he made a remark that they have just noticed a body on the ground of the said apartment.
  
“I panicked when my security guard told me about the body. I asked the whereabouts of the lady, because the guard confirmed that the lady who booked the apartment was with one guy. They said she left the night before about 7:30p.m.
 
“ I hung up the phone and tried to reach out to the lady, but she didn’t pick up my calls.  I sent her a message, because I didn’t want her to know that I was aware of what happened.  I tried to do something, to initiate conversation, which I told her the later payment didn’t come through, which I confirmed in the morning. “

The witness said that the first defendant said she would reach out to her friend to make the payment, adding that a few minutes later she got another N50,000, from the same initiator, from the same account of GTBank from Mr. Michael.
  
She further told the court how she was taken to Panti police station and how she stayed for seven days in custody in a view to help police do proper investigation.
 
She also narrated how she could not identify Chidinma Ojukwu when she was brought to the station, adding that it was through the aid of a picture she got from her phone that enabled her to identify the suspect.