A prosecution witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, on Monday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square that Chidinma Ojukwu charged with the murder of Mr Usifo Ataga, was tracked through her phone.
Bamidele is the ninth prosecution witness in the trial of Ojukwu for the murder of Ataga, Chief Executive Officer of Super TV.
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Ojukwu is charged with murder, stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
They all pleaded not guilty.
Bamidele said that the Intelligence and Tactical Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Department (SCIID), Yaba, tracked Ojukwu down at No. 57 Akinwunmi St., Alagomeji, Yaba.
Bamidele, who serves in the Homicide Section of the SCIID, gave evidence at the resumed trial of Ojukwu.
He was led in evidence by Lagos State Director for Public Prosecutions, Mrs A. O. Oluwafemi.
He narrated how the case was allegedly transferred from Maroko Police Station to his department at the SCID.
He said that the case was transferred and assigned to his team on June 17, 2021, with a suspect, Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the apartment where the alleged murder occurred.
The witness said that the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) from Maroko Police Station told him how a complaint about a body with a mark of violence was brought to the station.
Bamidele said that the IPO also informed him that he took pictures and made video recordings which were transferred into his Infinix Hot 4.
The witness testified that after receiving the complaint from the IPO, he visited the scene of the alleged crime alongside the IPO and Mogbo.
“We met the security guard who took us into the apartment, and I observed that there were bloodstains on the floor, the bed was ruffled with bloodstains on the pillow and duvet.
“The IPO also took me to Yaba General Hospital mortuary to see the body, and I observed that there were stab wounds on the body, including injury on his head and knees.
“I also saw that the two wrists had marks indicating that they were tied,” Bamidele said.
The witness said that he interacted with Mogbo who informed him that, on June 13, a phone call came from one Jewel, who requested a room at her short-service apartment.
He also said that the security guard at the apartment told him how the body of the deceased was discovered at the apartment where the said Jewel lodged with the deceased.
Bamidele also said that the security guard at the apartment gave him a phone number which the said Jewel used in calling him while at the apartment.
“After getting the information from the security guard, we engaged a tracking team.
“The trackers with the intelligent and tactical unit, tracked one Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, down at No. 57, Akinwunmi St., Alagomeji Yaba,” he said.
The witness also told the court that the statements of the owner of the apartment and the security were all taken and he identified the statements which were already in court as exhibits.
He also said that the pictures and videos in his phone were downloaded into a disc by an information technology expert in his office.
At this point, the prosecution counsel prayed for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to bring the video for viewing and to tender it in evidence.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the case until May 10 for the continuation of the trial.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021, on a nine-count charge brought against them by Lagos State Government.
Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count – stealing of iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
Ojukwu and Quadri are alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.
The alleged murder took place at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The duo was also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased. (NAN)
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