Usifo Ataga: Court remands Chidinma in prison for 30 days

A magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos, has granted the request of the police to remand 21-year-old Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected killer of Super TV boss, Usifo Ataga, for 30 days.

The police had filed the remand application before the magistrate, Adeola Adedayo.

Ms Ojukwu, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos, was arrested by the police on June 23 for allegedly killing Usifo, her secret lover.

Ms Ojukwu who initially admitted to stabbing Usifo multiple times while they lodged in a shortlet apartment in Lagos state, later retracted her statement. In an interview with the police media team which was aired by Crime Fighter TV, a police sponsored programme, Ojukwu claimed she walked into the room from an errand only to find Ataga stabbed, blood everywhere and the apartment in shambles.

At the hearing for the remand application today, the police prosecutor, Cyril Ajifor, told the court that the application was made pursuant to section 264 subsections 1 and 2 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

Ms. Ojukwu appeared before the magistrate alongside a co-defendant in the case, Quadri Adedapo. Ajifor said attached to the remand application is a 12-page affidavit, statements of the defendants, and an exhibit to show that the file has been duplicated to the DPP for legal advice.

“We are praying for the remand of the defendants for the first count,” Mr Ajifor said.

Representing the first defendant, Babajide Martins, Director of the Office of Public Defender said the remand application is “inevitable.” Martins, who did not oppose the application, enjoined the prosecution team to make necessary documents available to the defence before being brought before the court.

In her ruling, the magistrate granted the remand of the defendants for 30 days.

“In the absence of anything to the contrary, the two defendants are remanded for 30 days in the first instance” Adedayo said

The magistrate then adjourned the matter to September 5 for the review of remand and legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.