Super TV Boss Murder Trial Adjourned over Faulty Evidence

The trial of a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, Akoka, Chidinma Ojukwu, who allegedly killed the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Michael Ataga, was adjourned yesterday due to defects in the proof of evidence provided by the prosecution.

Chidinma and two others, Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu, were supposed to resume trial before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State.

Chidinma and Quadri had pleaded not guilty to eight counts bordering on murder, forgery and stealing.

Egbuchu, one of Chidinma’s relatives, was arraigned after the late Ataga’s iPhone 7 was allegedly recovered from her.

At the resumed sitting yesterday, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, told the judge that two witnesses were present in court.

But counsel for the second defendant, Babatunde Busari, said: “The copies of the proof of evidence supplied by the prosecution were not legible and some of them were faint. Also, item nine on the list of documents relied on by the prosecution, which is the video recording of the defendant’s interview, was not provided.”

The first and third defence lawyers, Onwuka Egwu and S. O. Odusanya, respectively, alleged that the video clip, which formed part of the proof of evidence, was not audible.

Responding, the DPP said: “My lord, we promise to send all copies of the documents and the videos this afternoon. We apologise for this and we are prepared.”

Busari said: “This morning, we were served with a notice of additional evidence, but the exhibits were not attached to the notice, so we do not know what they look like.

“It is the right of the defendants to get these documents early in order to prepare for today as they are not aware of the kind of evidence the prosecution intends to use.”

Justice Adesanya directed the prosecution to serve legible copies of exhibits in the proof of evidence on the defence counsel.

The case was, therefore, adjourned till November 11, 15, 16, and 17 as previously fixed for trial.