Chidinma Ojukwu Tells Court She Gave False Confession Under Duress

Chidinma Ojukwu, the former University of Lagos student accused of murdering Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga, on Tuesday told a Lagos High Court that she gave false statements to the police under pressure and fear.

Testifying in her defence before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Ojukwu claimed that her statements during police interrogation were dictated by officers and made under duress.

She is standing trial alongside Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, on a nine-count charge bordering on murder, stealing, and forgery, brought against them by the Lagos State Government on October 12, 2021.

Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Ojukwu recounted how she was arrested on June 23, 2021, and interrogated by the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Mr Bamidele. She said the officer seized her phone, demanded her password, and retrieved contact and location details related to her sister and a vendor in Computer Village, Ikeja.

According to her, Bamidele asked questions about a MacBook she sold, the cannabis she smoked, and the whereabouts of Ataga’s ATM card. When asked about a N5.38 million withdrawal from Ataga’s account, she said she had no knowledge of the transaction.

She alleged that after the questioning, Bamidele demanded that she write a statement and became aggressive when she insisted on having a lawyer present. “He slapped me and handcuffed me to a chair while he read the statement to me over and over,” she told the court.

Ojukwu further claimed she was taken to the Lagos State commissioner of police’s office, where she was instructed to repeat the dictated statement. She was later paraded before the media and warned to stick to the script.

She maintained that the statements she gave, both orally and in writing, were made under intimidation and without legal representation.

Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until May 7 for the continuation of the trial.