WATCH THE VIDEO HERE A 300-level student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, has told the Lagos State High Court that fear prevented her from reporting the incident to the police. Chidinma continued her defence on Monday before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at Tafawa Balewa Square. According to her, she had read stories where individuals who reported crimes ended up being accused themselves. “I thought of calling the gateman again because I had called him while at the staircase of the apartment, but I ended the call immediately because I was scared,” she said. Recounting her activities on June 16, 2021, she said, “I was going through my phone on WhatsApp and noticed that the message I sent to Michael had been read, and he appeared online. I called his number several times, but the calls were declined. I became confused.” Chidinma claimed she then called a certain Abu, who operated the generator and water pump at the short-let apartment, to inquire about Michael. “I asked him, ‘That man wey I come with, you don see am yesterday?’” she said. Abu reportedly replied, “I see am yesterday, him drive comot,” but later, the gateman informed her that Ataga’s car was still at the premises. Becoming increasingly worried, Chidinma said she sent Michael a WhatsApp message that read: “Please Michael, forgive me. I didn’t mean to leave you in that state. I was very scared.” She added, “After sending that message, I discovered I had been blocked.” Chidinma also told the court that she was arrested by four or five policemen on June 23, 2021. “When I said I didn’t have anything belonging to the deceased, one of the policemen slapped me,” she claimed. She added that her father intervened, but both of them were taken to the police station.
Fear Of Being Wrongfully Accused Prevented Me From Reporting Ataga’s Death To Police — Chidinma Ojukwu Tells Court
