Chidinma pleads not guilty to murder of late Usifo Ataga

Chidinma Ojukwu, a student of the University of Lagos, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga.

The 22-year-old pleaded not guilty on Tuesday when she and one Adedapo Quadri, another the suspects in the murder case, were arraigned before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

Both suspects pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on the offences of murder, forgery, and stealing.

The suspects were also arraigned alongside Chidinma’s sister, Egbuchu Chioma from whom the late Ataga’s iPhone 7, was said to have been recovered.

Chioma, however, pleaded not guilty to the 9th count of being in possession of the stolen property.

They are being prosecuted by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi.

Chidinma was arrested on June 24 and initially confessed to killing Usifo after the police found his lifeless body in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds at a hotel in the Lekki area of Lagos.

She later recanted her confession in an interview in July where she denied killing Ataga.

Chidinma said while they were lodged together in the short-let apartment, she briefly stepped out to buy some things only to return to his lifeless body.

“I never had anything to do with his death. I didn’t involve anybody. I don’t know who must have come into the apartment. Definitely, somebody did but I don’t who the person is. I don’t know what happened when I left to buy food,” Chidinma said.