Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Ataga, on Thursday told a Lagos High Court how she discovered Ataga’s lifeless body in a Lekki short-let apartment on June 15, 2021.
Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Tafawa Balewa Square court, the former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos said she had stepped out to buy food and juice. Upon her return, she knocked on the door and, receiving no response, pushed it open to find blood on the floor and Ataga lying motionless.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she recalled. “His eyes were half-open, and there was no pulse.”
Chidinma is standing trial for murder, conspiracy to murder, and theft, alongside Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma recounted her relationship with Ataga, which she said began in November 2020 through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James.
She described Ataga as generous and supportive, saying he paid her tuition and helped fund her cosmetics business, Unseal Zone International, located on Murtala Mohammed Way.
She told the court Ataga was from Edo State, had three children with his estranged wife who lives in Abuja, resided in Victoria Garden City (VGC), and worked in the media.
Chidinma narrated that on June 13, 2021, while she was cooking at home, Ataga called and invited her to spend time with him ahead of his birthday celebration with his family in Abuja.
He explained that his home in VGC was undergoing renovations and suggested they meet in Lekki instead. She said he preferred a short-let apartment over a hotel for a more homely atmosphere.
Though she initially struggled to find a suitable place, Ataga later sent her the address of an apartment at 19, Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki. She arrived there around 6 p.m. and was shown the place by a man named Abu. After inspecting it, she called Ataga, who soon joined her.
They went out to Ango Villa restaurant for food and wine before returning to relax at the apartment. On June 14, they spent the day eating, drinking, and smoking.
Chidinma said Ataga asked her to help get cannabis, also known as "loud," and Rohypnol. She contacted Quadri, who delivered the items to the apartment. Ataga sent her N15,000 for the drugs and later N25,000 for food.
On June 15, Ataga again requested cocaine but asked her to cover the cost, as he couldn’t make a transfer. He gave her more money to get food and juice.
She said she was out for about two hours due to delays and COVID-related restrictions. When she returned, she found the apartment silent and the door slightly ajar.
“I saw blood on the floor and pushed the door open. Michael was lying in a pool of blood. His eyes were half-shut. I dropped the food and rushed to him,” she testified.
She checked for a pulse but found none. In shock and fear, she wiped blood off her arm, changed into a black top over her red blouse, and began packing her belongings.
“I didn’t know what to do. I picked up my bag, some clothes, jewellery from the TV stand, and a brown envelope,” she said.
She then called a cab, waited on the stairs, and quietly left when it arrived—covering her red blouse with a black top and keeping her head down.
Back home, she unsealed the envelope and found several of Ataga’s personal items including bank statements, ID cards, business cards, and a document bearing the name Mary Johnson. She said one of the items might have been a driver’s license or a voter’s card.
Following her testimony, Justice Adesanya adjourned the case to April 28, 2025, for further proceedings. Chidinma, Quadri, and Egbuchu remain on trial.
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