Ataga: You’ve case to answer, court tells Chidinma’s co defendants, orders them to open defence

The Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Thursday, ordered Chidimma Ojukwu’s co-defendants to open their defence.

Ojukwu, charged with the murder of the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Usifo Ataga, alongside Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu, first to third defendants, are standing trial for Ataga’s murder.

She 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.

Chidinma and Quadri 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.

At the resumed hearing of the trial on Thursday, the second and third defendants who had earlier filed a no-case submission, challenging the trial, asked the court to dismiss all charges against them.

The second defendant’s counsel, Babatunde Busari, and the third defendant’s counsel, M.I Otuaka, argued that the prosecution had failed to establish any material evidence for their clients to enter defence in the case.

In his response to the application, the state’s prosecution, Yusuf Sule, objected to the submission and urged the court to dismiss the second defendant’s no-case submission application.

He said, “The prosecution has put forward material evidence linking the second defendant to the charges against him. We call upon him to enter his defence.”

“In response to the third defendant’s application, the prosecution filed a response on November 27, 2024, as per argument in response to this case. We urge the court to dismiss the application for a no-case submission as the prosecution has established material evidence of a stolen phone in the case.

Upon listening to the arguments of the counsel, Justice Yetunde Adesanya dismissed the no-case submission of the second and third defendants.

She ordered them to open their defence.

Consequently, the trio are to stand trial.

The judge adjourned the case till February 20, 2025, for continuation of trial.