Absence of prosecution witness, yesterday, stalled the trial of an undergraduate, Chidinma Ojukwu and two others over alleged murder of the late Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, could not go on as scheduled due to absence of prosecution witness.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya of a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) had fixed yesterday for further hearing on trial involving Chidinma, her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and Adedamola Quadri over alleged murder of Ataga. Chidinma is charged with murder, stealing and forgery alongside Quadri, while Egbuchu was charged with possessing one of the deceased’s phones.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against them by the state government. When the case was called yesterday, the trial was stalled due to the absence of a prosecution witness, a police officer, Bamidele Olusegun. The state counsel, Adenike Oluwafemi, said the scheduled witness to testify was absent due to ill health. “Unfortunately my lord, he gave me a call that he fell ill overnight and was on his way to the clinic. We sincerely apologise for the state of affairs and humbly pray that the matter be adjourned.” Counsel to the second defendant (Quadri), Babatunde Busari, expressed displeasure over the delay by the prosecution. “While I will not oppose a request for adjournment. I want it to be on record that this would be the fourth or fifth time that the prosecution will request for an adjournment in this matter. They ought to bring all their witnesses to avoid a delay of this sort,” he added. The judge subsequently fixed May 5, 2022 for further trial. The defendants were arraigned in October 2021 for alleged killing of Ataga in a service apartment in the Lekki area of the state. Both defendants are also accused of procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.