Ataga: Family Briefs Ozekhome, Alleges Police Cover-up

•CP denies claim, says forensic investigation ongoing

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Family of the late SuperTv boss, Michael Ataga, has briefed a constitutional lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, on the state of the case with a view to securing justice.

The family had accused the Lagos State Police Command and its Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, of attempt to cover up the killers, low level of professionalism in bringing the perpetrators to book and keeping the family in the dark on the day the arrested suspects were arraigned in court.

But Odumosu, in a swift rebuttal, told THISDAY that the outcome of the case was yet to be determined, thus the police could not be said to have exhibited unprofessionalism.

However, confirming the brief, Ozekhome declined to state if he was to watch brief on behalf of the family or whether a fiat had been obtained from the state to enable him undertake the prosecution.

“All I can confirm to you is that I have been briefed by the family to ensure that justice is done in the matter,” he said.

The bereaved family had last week alleged they were not notified by the police, when the primary suspect, Chidinma Ojukwu, 21, and others were separately arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate Court.

The family also accused the police of unprofessionalism in bringing the perpetrators of the grime crime that led to Ataga’s murder.

Ataga, 50, was murdered on June 15, at a Short-let apartment on Adebowale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, where he was spending time with a younger lover, Ojukwu.

The police arrested Ojukwu on June 23, who initially confessed to have killed the businessman, but in subsequent interviews, denied committing the crime.

According to her, even though they had injested some hard drugs, she had stepped out for an errand only to return and saw that the door to their apartment was not locked and Ataga had been brutally murdered.

In the course of police investigation, other suspects including Ojukwu’s adopted father, Emmanuel Ojukwu and one Babalola Disu, were also arraigned for preventing the police from performing their lawful duties and refusal to report a crime.

In its accusation of the police, the family expressed shock that Disu, whom they alleged committed the murder, was charged with obstruction of justice and failure to report a crime.

They said the suspicion of Disu was based on information they received that his short-let apartment was directly opposite the one Ataga was killed inside, which was booked by Chidinma.

The family also alleged that Disu had asked that the facility’s carpenter be called to fix his door only for the carpenter to be told later that it was Ataga’s door that was broken.

The Ataga family therefore expressed displeasure about what it termed the comfy movement of Ojukwu from court to the prison in a hailing cab ride without handcuffs on her.

“To all other suspects involved in this dastardly act (except Chidinma who was ordered remanded ), bail was granted by Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, in the funny conditions of one million naira each with two sureties in like sum.

“The over liberal bail terms in such a heinous crime of hideous and horrific murder,” adding that these acts by the police was a slap on their face, the face of justice and a deliberate cover-up.

But Odumosu, who had dismissed coverup, disclosed that at the moment, forensic investigation was ongoing including fingerprint identification, adding that some were being taken abroad to the pathologist for analysis.

On the issue of lack of handcuff on Chidinma, he said the behaviour of the suspect determines if he or she would be handcuffed, pointing out that the suspect was no longer in his custody but that of the Kirikiri Female Prisons.

“There was a court order that she be remanded in their custody”, he added.

Clarifying the handcuff part, he said, “It’s when there is an element of violence that we handcuff. In a case, where someone can injure herself or somebody, that’s when we handcuff. That’s the law.”

While stating that he understood the feelings of the bereaved family, he also stressed that the police could not operate outside the ambit of the law.

On the matter of Disu and his supposed light bail terms, he said the investigation was not concluded yet and that the case was adjourned, while any exhibit needed would be presented to the court.

He asked the family to provide any additional information that could help them with the case, adding that the case was far from being closed.

Shedding more light on why the family wasn’t informed about the arraignment, Odumosu said they were not the complainant, but that it was the owner of the shortlet apartment that saw the dead body and involved the police.

“I understand their feelings but we cannot do anything outside the law that we cannot defend. It’s not the feelings that determine, it’s the law,” he reiterated.

He noted that most times, the command refrained from commenting on the case to respect the pain of the bereaved family and avoid rehashing the gory details.

Odumosu said in the course of investigation, a