Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the 2021 m¥rder of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, has told a Lagos High Court how she discovered his body inside a short-let apartment in Lekki.
Testifying on Thursday before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the former University of Lagos student said she returned from buying food and juice on June 15, 2021, and after knocking repeatedly without a response, pushed the door open to find Ataga lying in a pool of bl++d.
“I rushed to him, but his eyes were half-shut and there was no pulse,” she said, recalling the moment emotionally.
Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma shared how she met Ataga in November 2020 through a mutual friend. She described him as generous, revealing he paid her school fees and supported her cosmetics business.
She said Ataga had invited her to spend time with him ahead of his birthday and due to renovations at his Victoria Garden City home, they opted for a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, Lekki. They checked in on June 13, went out to eat, bought wine, and later sm+ked together.
On June 14, she claimed Ataga requested c@nnab+s and roh¥pnol, sending her N15,000. Later, he gave her N25,000 for food. On June 15, she said he requested more c@nnab+s but asked her to cover the cost, also giving her money for food and juice.
After delays caused by COVID restrictions and a mix-up over okro soup, she returned to the apartment to a shocking sight — bl++d stains at the entrance and Ataga’s l+feless body inside.
In panic, she said she cleaned herself up, changed clothes, and packed her belongings. Among them were Ataga’s bank documents, ID cards, and some items belonging to one Mary Johnson. She also took jewelry before leaving in a cab.
The trial has been adjourned to April, 2025.