A Lagos State High Court has admitted two statements made by Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of SuperTV CEO, Usifo Ataga, as evidence in the ongoing trial.
The statements were made to the police on June 24, 2021, and June 28, 2021, respectively, and were tendered by the prosecution as part of its case against the defendant.
While ruling on a trial within trial to determine the voluntariness of the statements, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Chidinma made the statements willingly and without duress.
Through her counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, the defendant had alleged that her statements were not voluntarily made, claiming she was slapped and forced to sign the statements after it was written by the police officers whom she insisted tore her initial statements.
Chidinma is standing trial for the alleged murder of Ataga. She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
Chidinma and Quadri are alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.
In her ruling on the statements, Justice Adesanya, said that it was settled law that before a statement would be admissible, the defendant must be advised of his or her rights.
She said that the defendant must be made to understand the rights and must be cautioned before his or her statements would be taken.
The judge said the defendant had alleged that she was physically abused and threatened.
Adesanya, however, said, “The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements.
“The voice of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) was clear and audible. It did not show any form of intimidation.”
Chidinma’s statements, according to the Judge, contain vital information about the events leading up to Ataga’s murder and the aftermath.
In the first statement, she confessed to stabbing Ataga multiple times after an argument, while the second statement revealed more details about how she attempted to cover up the crime by stealing his belongings and withdrawing money from his bank account.
She said that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was not coaxed into writing her statements.
The judge, therefore, admitted the two statements in evidence and marked them as exhibits.
The admission of Chidinma’s statements as evidence is a significant development in the trial, which has attracted widespread attention in Nigeria and beyond. The trial will continue as both the prosecution and defense present their cases before the court.