Chidinma Ojukwu, the main suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, testified in Lagos High Court about discovering Ataga's body in a Lekki short-let apartment on June 15, 2021.
Appearing before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, said upon returning with food and juice, she knocked on the door but received no response.
When she pushed the door open, she found Ataga's lifeless body in a pool of blood with blood splattered on the floor.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,”; she said, adding that his eyes were half-shut and he had no pulse.
Under examination by her lawyer, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Ojukwu detailed her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020.
She said they met through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described Ataga as kind and supportive, claiming he had paid her school fees and supported her cosmetics business.
She said Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City, worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife who lived in Abuja.
According to her, Ataga called her on June 13, 2021, saying it was his birthday week and invited her to spend time with him before heading to Abuja for a family celebration.
Due to renovations at his VGC home, he suggested getting a hotel or apartment in Lekki, where he also had meetings.
She eventually found a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved.
They met there that evening, went out to eat at Ango Villa restaurant, picked up wine, then returned to the apartment to drink, eat, and smoke.
On June 14, 2021, they woke up late, and Ataga asked her to contact her supplier for loud (cannabis) and rohypnol.
She said he sent her N15,000 for that and later N25,000 for food. She was out for about two hours buying meals due to COVID-related delays.
On June 15, 2021, she said Ataga again requested more loud but asked her to pay since he couldn’t transfer funds.
He also gave her money to buy food and juice.
In a struggle to reach him due to an issue with the okro soup she went to buy, she returned to the apartment and found him dead.
“I saw bloodstains, pushed the door open, and saw him on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse, there was none,”; she claimed.
In panic, she said, she wiped the blood off herself, changed clothes, and packed her belongings, including a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and documents belonging to one Mary Johnson. She also took some jewelry and left the apartment in a cab.
The case has been adjourned to April 28, 2025, for continuation of trial.
