Court Rejects No-Case Submissions By Chidinma Ojukwu’s Sister, Co-Defendant In Usifo Ataga Murder Trial

Quadri and Egbuchu had filed the no-case submissions in a bid to have the charges against them dropped, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to proceed with the trial.

However, Justice Yetunde Adesanya ruled that there was a prima facie case against both defendants, as the prosecution had established enough material evidence for them to enter defence in the matter and thus, ordered them to open their defence.

Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is standing trial before the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square.

She is being prosecuted alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri for the murder of Ataga.

The defendants were arraigned on October 12, 2021, by the Lagos State Government.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Both were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.

The incident occurred at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

When the case came up on Thursday, the prosecution announced an appearance, while the defendants were also represented.

The judge in her ruling held that in the written address by the second defendant, it was nothing that was mentioned or linked to Adedapo Quadri to the offences mentioned by the ninth prosecuting witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, in his testimony.

She said, “The duty of the court is not to analyse the charge but, to examine the charge and if the evidence is established, then there is a case to answer and the no-case submission is overruled.

“The first defendant during interrogation and statement recording told PW9 that it was the second defendant that helped her with the preparation of a UBA Bank account with the name Mary Johnson, Access Bank Statement, driving licence and passport.

‘The second defendant, (Quadri) also, confessed that he helped the first defendant prepare the said documents.”

The evidence laid to the third defendant is the one made by the ninth prosecution witness in his examination-in-chief and the statement of the third defendant, Egbuchu.

Egbuchu in her statement said she was contacted that the phone with her was a stolen phone and that the owner of the phone was dead.

She said she told the police that it was a gift from her sister (Chidinma), and that when she gave her the phone, she asked her where she got it from and that Chidinma said it was her boyfriend who gave her.

“I have carefully considered the exhibits, both the second and third defendants have a case to answer. From the totality of the evidence before me, I reject the no-case submissions of the second and third defendants.

“I call on the second and third defendants to enter their defence,” the judge said.

However, the case was adjourned till April 9, 2025, for the defence to open their case.