A former University of Lagos student, Chidinma Ojukwu, on Monday told a Lagos High Court that she never discussed the death of Super TV CEO, Michael Ataga, with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri.
Ojukwu, a former 300-level Mass Communication student, made the statement while being cross-examined by the second defendant’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Busari.
Busari was attempting to determine whether his client had any involvement in Ataga’s death.
Ojukwu is standing trial alongside Quadri and a third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu, on a nine-count charge filed by the Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing, while Egbuchu is facing a one-count charge of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, Ojukwu said her dealings with Quadri were limited to the supply of “Loud,” a form of cannabis, and Rohypnol, as well as his assistance in producing her school identity card.
“I never had any discussion with Adedapo Quadri about the death of Ataga.
“The only transactions we had were for the supply of Loud and Rohypnol.
“He also helped me to produce my school ID card,” Ojukwu said.
She said Quadri knew nothing about what happened between her and Ataga at the apartment.
She stated that Quadri never visited her during her stay at the apartment.
Ojukwu added that she only called him to supply Loud and Rohypnol after Ataga mentioned that he had just one stick of Loud left.
The defendant, however, admitted that she took a brown envelope from the apartment when she left, explaining that it contained several personal documents belonging to Ataga.
“Inside it were Ataga’s driver’s licence, his ID card, office complimentary cards, a driver’s licence and international passport belonging to one Mary Johnson, as well as Access Bank and UBA statements of account.
“Inside it were Ataga’s driver’s licence, his ID card, office complimentary cards, a driver’s licence and international passport belonging to one Mary Johnson, as well as Access Bank and UBA statements of account.
“When the police came to my house at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba, I told DSP Olusegun Bamidele that I took the envelope home by mistake,” she said.
Earlier, Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, reminded the court that during the previous proceeding, he had sought to tender certain letters to which the prosecution objected.
Egwu said, “I wrote a letter to the prosecution on Oct. 29, 2021, requesting the production of items released on bond to the nominal complainant.”
However, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule, told the court that the prosecution did not come across any such document.
After hearing both parties, Justice Yetunde Adesanya directed Egwu to tender the letters.