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Court remands Chidinma over murder, arraigns father
Modupe Shodeinde
A Yaba Magistrates’ Court yesterday remanded Chidinma Ojukwu, prime suspect in the murder of SuperTV chief executive Usifo Ataga.
Magistrate Adeola Adedayo ordered the remand of Ojukwu for 30 days following an application of the police counsel, Cyril Ejiofor.
She also remanded Ojukwu’s codefendant Adedapo Quadri on the same terms.
Ejiofor had prayed the court to remand Ojukwu in police custody pending the issuance of a Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) report on the matter.
“The remand is to enable the DPP come up with legal advice. We pray for the remand of the defendants for the first 30 days in the first instance,” he said.
Ojukwu’s counsel, Babajide Martins, who is the Director of the Office of the Public Defender, did not oppose the application.
He complained that he did not get the remand application on time, however, he declined to oppose Ejiofor’s prayer “in principle.”
Quadri had no legal representation.
Ruling on the application of the police counsel, Adedayo said, “In the absence of any opposition, the two defendants are hereby remanded for 30 days in the first instance. The case is adjourned till September 5, for review of remand/DPP’s advice.”
Also, the State Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, also brought criminal charges against Mr Onoh Ojukwu, Chidinma’s father.
The police arraigned Ojukwu and four others before the court where Chidinma was earlier arraigned and remanded.
Ojukwu, 57, and Babalola Disu, 42, were charged with obstructing the police from performing their duties and failing to report a crime to the police.
The three other defendants, Jessica Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23, were accused of dishonestly receiving stolen items.
Ojukwu was charged for preventing the police from arresting his daughter, Chidinma, while second defendant, Disu, failed to report Ataga’s death to the police.
According to Ejiofor, the other three defendants dishonestly received a MacBook valued at N2.5 million and an iPhone 7 worth N150,000 belonging to the deceased.
The court heard that the offences contravened Sections 97, 117, 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo, granted each defendant N1 million bail with two sureties each in like sum, who must make a deposit of N20,000 into the coffers of the Chief registrar.
She adjourned till September 6 for mention.
