ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Chidinma Ojukwu, a former 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos and the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, on Thursday narrated to a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square how she found Ataga’s lifeless body in a Lekki apartment on June 15, 2021.
Opening her defence before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, Chidinma recounted that she had returned from buying food and drinks and was surprised when she knocked on the apartment door and got no response.
She then pushed the door open and discovered Ataga lying in a pool of blood.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she told the court, adding that his eyes were half-shut and he had no pulse.
Led in evidence by her counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma described her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020 through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James.
READ ALSO: Alleged Murder: Chidinma Confessed To Spiking Ataga’s Drink – DSP Bamidele
She described Ataga as kind and generous, stating that he had paid her tuition and also supported her cosmetics business.
According to her, Ataga told her he was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City (VGC), worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife, who lived in Abuja.
She testified that on June 13, 2021, Ataga called her, mentioned that it was his birthday week, and invited her to spend time with him before heading to Abuja for celebrations.
Because renovations were ongoing at his VGC home, he suggested they stay in a hotel or short-let apartment in Lekki, where he often held meetings.
Chidinma said she eventually secured a short-let apartment at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved.
That evening, they met at the apartment, dined at Angle Villa restaurant, picked up some wine, and returned to relax, eat, drink, and smoke.
She further narrated that on June 14, they woke up late, and Ataga requested she reach out to her supplier for “loud” (cannabis) and rohypnol. She said he sent her N15,000 for the drugs and later an additional N25,000 for food. She was out for about two hours due to delays caused by COVID restrictions.
On June 15, Chidinma said Ataga again asked her to get more “loud” but requested she pay for it, citing difficulties transferring funds.
He also gave her money for food and juice. When she couldn’t reach him by phone to confirm his preference for okra soup, she returned to the apartment and found him dead.
“I saw blood stains, pushed the door open, and saw Michael on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse, there was none,” she said.
In shock, she explained that she wiped blood off her body, changed her clothes, and packed her belongings, including a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and documents belonging to one Mary Johnson.
She also took some of his jewellery and left in a cab.
Channels Television reports that Justice Adesanya adjourned the matter to April 28, 2025, for Chidinma to conclude her testimony and for continuation of trial.